the end is glorious, if we only persevere —
elham eshraghian - haakansson

THE END IS GLORIOUS, IF WE ONLY PERSEVERE', is a poetic expression Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson has used to convey her mother’s experience of displacement after escaping Iran in 1979, during the revolution. The title, a quote by a prominent figure in the Bahá'í Faith, finds its origin in the Bahá'í philosophy that the end of our tumultuous journey, makes way for a glorious and unified world, something we can attain if we only persevere together, regardless of race, class, gender and culture.During the 1979 Iranian revolution many people were persecuted, exiled or killed. The film predominantly focuses on the religious persecution of the Bahá'ís of which Eshraghian-Haakansson’s family is part. It celebrates culture, remembers moments of loss, and conveys the complex emotions felt within the refugee experience of displacement by using performance, poetry, music and archival documentation.The 3 channel film installation acts as a message to those who are displaced and have endured hardship, including Eshraghian-Haakansson’s mother, and to unveil their story that should be never silenced. However, the films poetic and somewhat ambiguous style calls for a wider reflection on one’s own experience and the ability to empathise with the Other, whether a refugee arriving to a new country or a host welcoming into a country. Empathy for all humankind, especially today, may not be an impossible ideal to attain.

ELHAM ESHRAGHIAN-HAAKANSSON (Perth, 1996) is a Bahá’í video artist. She explores the Iranian diaspora within the Australian community and uncovers her family’s experience of displacement during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Eshraghian-Haakansson’s research examines the inter-generational dialogue between the first (those who were displaced) and second generation (children of those displaced) in an attempt to understand her mother’s experience of displacement and escape. She addresses the emotional impact felt and the need for empathy in response to the current global social and political climate. It is through the affective poetic space of installation art and aesthetic devices of choreographed performance, archival documentation, and symbolic cultural indicators that allow for a greater understanding of the experience of loss and grief that takes hold through states of displacement.

Eshraghian-Haakansson graduated with first-class Honours in Fine Arts from the University of Western Australia, School of Design (2017) and is currently continuing her research at the university. Eshraghian-Haakansson received the Dr. Harold Schenberg Art Fellowship Award during the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art’s Hatched Exhibition (2018) and the Jean Callander Art Prize for her work, Bohrân. Recently, Eshraghian-Haakansson has exhibited in the Lock up Gallery, Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia), the WA Emerging Artists Exhibit in Heathcote Gallery and for the Brilliant; Undercurrent Exhibit, Fremantle Moore’s Gallery. She has exhibited in Melbourne as part of C3 Contemporary Arts Exhibit, a finalist for the John Stringer Art Award held at John Curtin Art Gallery and was recently awarded an Artist-In-Residence at Frabica, Treviso in Italy, to take place in the coming future.

Join us for a Zoom Artist Talk — Anindita Banerjee talks with Samantha Taylor and Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson about the diasporic experience Thurs OCT 15, 7PM - 7.40PM

*The easing of Covid-19 restrictions in regional Victoria may mean that the gallery can be physically open during the exhibition period.