2023-2024Monument Zero, is an exhibition and publication initiated by artist Katayoon Barzegar. This multi-faceted project draws on scarce archival materials from the 1979 International Women’s Day protestsin Iran to build a bridge between past and present feminist struggles, while envisioning alternative futures through collective artistic practice.
Monument Zero emerged from International Women’s Day on 8 March 1979 in Iran. The archival materials that form the starting point depict six days of protests, sit-ins, and conferences that began on this day in Tehran. These historical objects have been preserved by the mercy of their creators, who were present during the 1979 protests, and are scattered across personal and public holdings worldwide. Throughout the past 46 years, the history of the International Women’s Day protests has faced several deliberate attempts at erasure. Therefore, by bringing together the scarce materials that depict this forgotten history, Monument Zero counters historical erasure and explores the preservation of political struggles through collective artistic practice.
The exhibition features an audiovisual installation of a stone sculpture and video piece, marking the first chapter of an ongoing collaboration between visual artists Pegah Pasalar and Behshad Tajammol. The project includes previously untranslated historical materials presented here in English for the first time, alongside contributions from writers Shirin Karimi and Elaheh Soroushnia, and visual essays by artist Meshkat Talebi.