WomanLifeFreedom
“Power Rarely Falls Within The Right Hands.”
In this powerful large-scale work to mark International Women’s Day, artist Aida Wilde
references her own experiences of displacement, loss and trauma – having fled Iran during
the war with Iraq with her mother and sisters in the 80’s- while connecting this with the
experiences of countless others.
“From our arms that have loved, lost and silenced, this is for ALL the mothers, sisters,
brothers and fathers around the world, who have suffered oppression, violence, injustices
and bloodshed. May our tears and suffering not be in vain. May we be united by peace in the
fight for justice.”
- Aida Wilde.
Wilde’s street-based triptych for IWD may be found on the walls of London, Bristol and
Manchester, courtesy of UNCLE.
Press Release:
AIDA WILDE X UNCLE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
2023
“Power rarely falls within the right hands.”
The Silence From The Veil, Aida Wilde 2023
Last week – in just the latest threat to the safety and human rights of Iranian girls and
women – hundreds of teenage girls were gassed in their classrooms in an apparent attempt
to obstruct their access to education. In this powerful large-scale work to mark International
Women’s Day, visual artist and printmaker Aida Wilde references her own experiences of
displacement, loss and trauma – having fled Iran during the war with Iraq with her mother
and sisters – whilst connecting this with the experiences of countless others.
In the foreground of Wilde’s wildposted triptych, the hands of her mother and younger
sister are raised in iconic gestures of resistance atop marble pedestals – on a monumental
magnitude often reserved for celebrating men’s histories. The bold text etched on the
plinths arrest the viewer by invoking a direct call to reflection and action – via slogans
reminiscent of Jenny Holzer’s iconic street-based work: “Power rarely falls within the right
hands”; “If you only knew how exhausting it is to be powered by rage”; “There can be no
Gods walking among us.”
Wilde’s older sister is the eminent Iranian poet Ziba Karbassi. Here, Wilde arms her sister’s
hand with a quill, connecting her own street-based public visual intervention to Karbassi’s
quiet – but no less powerful – poetic acts of resistance: “From everyone/ more than
everything/ From all/ More than everyone ever/ I believe in my own chest/ In the moment of
the bullet.” 1
The background to the work is densely woven with the names of just some of the thousands
of women and girls who have been murdered in the struggle against Iran’s oppressive
theocratic regime. 2 In acknowledgement of the uprising sparked in 2022 by the unlawful
death of Mahsa Amini, the names of Iran’s manifold victims of gender violence rain down
softly on Wilde’s plinths, and rise in a ghostly stream from the poppy fields at their base –
honouring and humanising the countless women and girls lost to this ongoing state-
sanctioned femicide.
The artist says, “This is the first time that I have incorporated all of my family in one piece of
artwork. From our arms that have loved, lost and silenced, this is for ALL the mothers, sisters,
brothers and fathers around the world, who have suffered oppression, violence, injustices
and bloodshed. May our tears and suffering not be in vain. May we be united by peace in the
fight for justice.”
Wilde’s street-based triptych can be found on the walls of the cities of London, Bristol and
Manchester for International Women’s Day, in collaboration with the original wildposting
company UNCLE and OllyStudio, with creative direction from Olly Walker and Susan Hansen.
Aida Wilde is an Iranian born, London-based printmaker/visual artist, and educator. Wilde’s
diverse screen-printed indoor/outdoor installations and social commentary artworks have
been featured on city streets and galleries around the world and are responsive works on
gentrification, education, and equality. Wilde’s academic career includes, associate lecturer,
course director and alumni, on the Surface Design and Foundation of Applied Arts at the
London College of Communication, University of the Arts (2004-2015). Aida’s serigraphs have
been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions including, the Victoria & Albert
Museum, Women’s Art Library, Goldsmiths, Vienna’s Fine Art Academy, Somerset House, the
Fitzwilliam Museum, and Saatchi Gallery.
Relevant Socials and Hashtags
Aida Wilde:
@aida_wilde | aidawilde.com | info@aidaprints.com
UNCLE:
@uncle_insta | https://manfromuncle.info
OLLYSTUDIO:
@ollystudio| http://ollystudio.co.uk
1 Sigh. 15. Revolutionary by Ziba Karbassi. Translated by Ziba Karbassi and Nazlee Radboy
2 List courtesy of NCRI Women’s Committee.
EmbraceEquity #WomenLifeFreedom #MahsaAmini #womenshistorymonth2023
#iranrevolution #womenncri #aidawilde #zibakarbassi #printispower #uncle_insta
@aida_wilde @uncle_insta @ollystudio @suse.hansen #IWD2023 #WomanLifeFreedom
