Dar-Al-Salam (Childhood Memory)| 2023
Winner of the People's Choice Award art hi[STORIES] at Majestic Gallery, Nelsonville, Ohio, October 2024
Death marks the final moment of all life, and cemeteries symbolize humanity's attempt to defy this inevitable fate.
Each gravestone is the clearest sign of a person's death. Yet, the inscriptions and symbols on them signify the departed's last message to future generations, striving for a form of eternity.
Storytelling, an ancient and universal practice, serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting generations through shared memories and cultural heritage. My project, Dar-Al-Salam (Childhood Memory), is a tribute to the stories embedded within the gravestones of Dar al-Salam cemetery in Shiraz, a place that holds profound personal and cultural significance.
Cemeteries are often seen as spaces of silence and finality, yet within the inscriptions and symbols on gravestones lie narratives that transcend death, striving for a form of eternity. Dar al-Salam, with its 10,000 gravestones and over 1,200 years of history, is more than a resting place; it is a living archive of stories—stories of lives lived, of identities forged, of cultural and artistic expressions that have endured through time.
Growing up in Shiraz, I was surrounded by the rich literary and artistic heritage that has shaped the city from the Achaemenid dynasty and Sasanian eras to the present day.
The Dar al-Salam cemetery, with its unique blend of calligraphy, painting, and sculpture, became a part of my identity, a place where the past whispered its stories to the present. In this project, I revisit those whispers, and I breathe life into the symbols and motifs of Dar al-Salam cemetery, narrating a personal story deeply rooted in my childhood memories and the cultural storytelling of my homeland. The bird, a common symbol in the cemetery, represents my childhood spirit. As a child, I would jump from stone to stone, transforming the gravestones into canvases for my imagination. The pictograms and symbols etched into the stones became gateways to stories and characters, sparking adventures in my mind. In this work, the bird mirrors that playful exploration, engaging with the symbols and bringing to life the stories that once filled my childhood. By animating the gravestones through Video Projection Mapping, I aim to rekindle that sense of wonder and imagination, demonstrating that even in a place associated with death, there is room for creativity and storytelling.
Yet, the stories of Dar al-Salam are under threat. Decades of neglect, misguided policies, and intentional destruction have erased many of these gravestones, including those of my ancestors. The narratives they once held are fading, making it more crucial than ever to preserve and share what remains.
Design Process:
I went to some graves that had bird motifs to narrate my story.
​Technique:
Using the technique of Video Projection Mapping, I aim to revitalize these stories, projecting motion graphics onto the gravestones to transform them into dynamic storytellers. This modern medium allows me to manipulate perspectives, highlight emotional undertones, and create an immersive storytelling experience that resonates with contemporary audiences, particularly the younger generation, who may be disconnected from these historical narratives. By sharing these stories, we can help preserve our history, our historical places, and our culture, ensuring that they continue to inspire, connect, and transform future generations.
This manipulation of visuals becomes a powerful tool for storytelling, enabling me to communicate narratives in a visually captivating and immersive manner.​​
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Software:
I initiated the process by wireframing gravestones in a linear format using Illustrator. These were then imported into After Effects for motion graphics. Subsequently, using *OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), I successfully displayed them simultaneously on multiple stones. However, achieving adjustments for projector distance and rearranging stones requires software like MadMapper, currently beyond my financial reach.
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*About OBS (Open Broadcaster Software): OBS is a free, open-source software primarily used for live streaming and recording. It offers capabilities to capture and broadcast content from various sources, making it a valuable tool for projecting content onto multiple surfaces simultaneously, as in my project. OBS enables real-time adjustments and overlays, allowing for a synchronized projection of motion graphics onto the stones concurrently, enhancing the storytelling experience.
Material:
In my experimentation with various materials, I settled on a smaller size for the stone material. None could adequately represent the gravestones of Dar al-Salam cemetery. Below, I've included samples of materials tested.
Sound:​
The convergence of visual projections with ambient sounds recorded from the cemetery adds a multi-sensory dimension to the storytelling, deepening the emotional impact and fostering a connection between the viewer and the narratives of Dar al-Salam.
I asked a family member to go to the cemetery and record the ambient sounds for me. The sound you hear in the video is the sound of the cemetery, dominated by the winter winds.
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Position:
Ground Placement of Stones: Placing the stones on the ground within the video was intentional. It aimed to replicate the feeling and setting of sitting by graves in a cemetery. By inviting viewers to observe the details of the graves from this perspective, I sought to evoke a sense of closeness and contemplation akin to the experience of visiting an actual cemetery.
Challenge:
One of the challenges faced by video mapping projects for long-term shows in exhibition spaces is their daily installation. To address this, I have designed a simple structure that can be easily followed by anyone after the initial setup, which I will handle personally. Although it may seem challenging at first, I have written clear instructions to make the process as straightforward as possible. Additionally, I will bring the projector and all other necessary equipment with me to ensure everything is set up correctly.​​
This project, a personal exploration of memory and heritage, was presented at the Trisolini Gallery (Kinship Exhibition) and The Columbus Printed Arts Center (The Fort). The feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive, with many people falling in love with its intimate scale and the story narrated by the bird—a symbol of my childhood soul—jumping from stone to stone. The use of Video Projection Mapping and motion graphics to bring these gravestones to life resonated deeply with audiences, demonstrating the power of modern technology in preserving and sharing our cultural heritage.
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Appalachian Literary Arts & Storytelling Festival
Winner of the People's Choice Award art hi[STORIES] at Majestic Gallery, Nelsonville, Ohio, October 2024
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We are thrilled to announce that our project, Video Projection Mapping on Five Stone Pieces, has won the People’s Choice Award at the art hi[STORIES] exhibition!
This piece pays tribute to the stories embedded within the gravestones of Dar al-Salam cemetery in Shiraz, merging personal memories with the larger narrative of cultural heritage. Through video projection mapping, we animate these stones to evoke the significance of preserving our shared past, urging younger generations to connect with and continue these stories. This recognition underscores the importance of cultural storytelling in inspiring and uniting communities.
This project is not just about preserving the past; it is about engaging with it, allowing the stories of Dar al-Salam to continue to inspire, connect, and transform.
In honoring the legacy of communal storytelling, Dar-Al-Salam (Childhood Memory) invites viewers to look beyond the stones, to the stories that lie within, and to reflect on the enduring power of art as a medium for cultural exchange and memory.
Najmeh (Sara) Pirahmadian