During the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, galleries in Iran were shut down. In response, my friend Dorna and I initiated a collaborative project behind the closed doors of an art gallery. Deeply moved and saddened by the heartbreaking events on the streets, we created an installation that reflected this atmosphere of grief and resilience. I painted an eight-meter-long piece filled with red gladiolus flowers, commemorating the ongoing loss and terror, while Dorna constructed roots from clay and metal to symbolize our homeland and national identity.