4.JULY2017
The Freedom Sculpture, is an Iranian-American led, widely crowd-supported public monumental gift, inspired by the humanitarian ideals of freedom, respect for cultural diversity and inclusiveness that originated with Cyrus the Great of Persia 2,500 years ago.
source: Freedom Sculpture website
 |
Freedom Sculpture by Cecil Balmond OBE, 2017 Los Angeles, CA, Stainless Steel, 15 x 20 x 9 ft |
13.SEPT.2020
Set on rings, the Freedom Sculpture looks like an enormous wedding ring. It functions like one too, as this monumental gift by hyphenated Iranians is also a proposition of fidelity to our newly adopted countries, With no mention of the lack of freedom in Iran, have we also divorced ourselves from our birth country?
"Who do I go to?" Actress-Activist Shohreh Aghdashloo
With growing unrest in Iran, the regime is taking a hard line on political dissension by arresting and detaining its outspoken citizens, most recently targeting dual nationals, human-rights lawyers, and feminists actively opposing the compulsory hijab law. In a video message, Iranian-American actress and activist, Shohreh Aghdashloo, reads the names of nine prisoners of conscience and reports breaking news about popular wrestling champion Navid Afkary. Her message expresses the sadness and helplessness of Iranians, outside and inside Iran.
Video Message by Shohreh Aghdashlloo,
Keyhan Life, Facebook, Sept 13th, 2020
1.OCT,2020
In an attempt to amplify her message, I revisited the Freedom Sculpture.
Silver Cylinder, (Freedom Sculpture, Revisited) by Kurosh ValaNejad, 2020
Los Angeles, CA, Vinyl Letters, Length 25+ ft x 1.5 inches tall
"Freedom is not Free."
As a powerful reminder of the steep price of freedom, I also propose to permanently etch onto the inner gold cylinder the names of Iranians who died in pursuit of democracy and the freedom of speech in Iran. I hope this brings comfort to their family, friends and fans.
Gold Cylinder, Freedom Sculpture, Revisited by Kurosh ValaNejad, 2020
Los Angeles CA, Removable Vinyl Letters to be replaced with Permanent Etching
15.JAN.2021
With every visit to the Freedom sculpture I add names.
 |
| Navid Afkari's Brothers, Vahid and Habib Remain in Solitary Confinement |
* To ensure accuracy, I will crosscheck the names I post on the silver cylinder with the list of of political prisoners in the Iran Prison Atlas Database of United4Iran. The names on the gold cylinder will be verified when corroborated by their entry in the Omid Memorial of Abdorrahman Boroumand Center.
PROPOSAL extension; The Virtual Soap Box
The Freedom Sculpture is installed at one of the busiest and most expensive locations in the world, with up to 100,000 cars driving by it on a daily basis, on the way to and from Beverly Hills, CA. source: Freedom Sculpture website
In a median next to an underutilized bus stop, the installation site of the Freedom Sculpture is an ideal place to launch hash-tagged human-rights campaigns.
25.SEPT.2020
#FREENASRIN
After two grossly unfair trials, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent Iranian human rights lawyer, was sentenced to 38 years and six months in prison and 148 lashes because of her work defending women's rights and protesting against Iran’s discriminatory and degrading forced veiling laws. Nasrin has dedicated her life to peaceful human rights.
source: Amnesty International
 |
| Nasrin's Protest Banner, 2020, multi-media, 48" x 24" x1.5" The button on her headscarf, translated to English in the closeup, was the evidence used to convict her. |
As millions around the world demand the Islamic Republic of Iran #FreeNasrin, Ms. Sotoudeh started a hunger strike to fight for the release of all prisoners of conscience who were not included in the mass release of 85,000+ prisoners as COVID-19 courses through Iran's prison..
7.NOV.2020
Tweet by Reza Khandan, Nasrin's husband
 |
| source: Stéphane Lallement @s_lallement |
from Time
Someone left flowers ! >>>
10.NOV.2020
18.DEC.2020
 | |
|
“Keeping people in limbo is a very effective tactic to control and constrain them. The threat of taking people back to prison is even more effective in certain cases than taking them back to prison.”
Tara Sepehri Far, Researcher, Human Rights Watch
3.DEC.2020
Freedom Sculpture, Revisited now has a life of its own. The names of imprisoned Conservationists have been added by an anonymous protestor. The Copycat is a cheetah! Dressed as Yupa, the mascot of the Iranian football team, the protestor is holding a banner demanding the IRI #FreeIranianConservationists. 
In the video posted on YouTube by Bedoone Esme (Iranian translation: 'Without Name' ) Jane Goodall quotes Rumi in her plea for compassion.
It is a seal bearing the name of my great uncle's uncle (from Siavash Kasraie's uncle), Abdol-Karim Kasraie, whose middle name, Karim, I share. Abdol-Karim used this seal while he was a member of the Iranian parliament , and Dai Sia's poem, Arash the Archer*, helped restore national pride after the demoralizing Coup in 1953**. With this stamp, Abdol-Karim has "deputized" me from his grave to continue our families multi -generational effort to bring/ensure/restore the Freedom of Spirit*** in Iran. This is my inherited Karma. * Bibi Kasraie recites in Persian, Arash the Archer with recording of her father, Siavash. ** To learn more about the 1953 coup, play my documentary videogame, titled The Cat and the Coup. *** Freedom of Spirit is the underlying principle of the Freedom of Thought and Speech.
Nasrin receives the Right Livelihood Award for her courage in solving global problems.
29.DEC.2020
Nasrin receives the 2020 Elenore Roosevelt Prize for Global Human Rights Advancement. Hours later she is summoned back to jail for breaking the terms of her medical furlough by recording an acceptance speech.
30.DEC.2020
#FREENASRINFORGOOD
10.APRIL.2021
 |
| `N` became the shorthand #FreeNasrinForGood |
2.MAY.2021
#FreeIranianConservationists #Hope4Nature
Freedom Sculpture, Revisited now has a life of its own. The names of imprisoned Conservationists have been added by an anonymous protestor. The Copycat is a cheetah! Dressed as Yupa, the mascot of the Iranian football team, the protestor is holding a banner demanding the IRI #FreeIranianConservationists. 
In the video posted on YouTube by Bedoone Esme (Iranian translation: 'Without Name' ) Jane Goodall quotes Rumi in her plea for compassion.The names of conservationists added to the outer, silver cylinder are Niloufar Bayani, Taher Ghadirian, Houman Jokar, Sepideh Kashani, AmirHossein Khaleghi, AbdolReza Kouhpayeh, Sam Rajabi, Morad Tahbaz, and Kaveh Madani.
 |
| Kavous Seyed-Emami, who perished in prison, was added to the inner, gold cylinder. May his animal spirit, the Asiatic Cheetah, haunt and hunt the prison and judiciary officials responsible for his untimely, unexplained demise. |
3. #WhiteWednesdays #WalkingUnveiled
Saba, Yasaman, Mojgan. Monireh, Maryam, Matin, Sara, Raha, Raheleh;
They are the Rosa Parks of Iran.
Don't remain silent....Be their voice."
Masih Alinejad
_
#SayMyNameBeMyVoice
from BBC Persian
1.NOV.2022
DURING ONGOING PROTESTS IN IRAN
THE FREEDOM SCULPTURE IN CENTURY CITY
TAKES ON NEW MEANING
#WOMANLIFEFREEDOM
A few simple acts have transformed this iconic Los Angeles landmark into a living symbol of solidarity with the Iranian people who are fighting for their freedom in Iran. It started with Los Angeles-based artist and activist Kurosh ValaNejad who pasted decals on the base of the Freedom Sculpture that read “SAY MY NAME: MAHSA AMINI, BE MY VOICE.” His act became the seed for an ongoing movement around the monument, when Los Angeles artist Nushin Sabet tied a veil to the monument near the decals.Since then hundreds of Angelenos have tied more veils, scarves and ribbons on the Freedom Sculpture, organically reshaping it as it stands on busy Santa Monica Blvd in Century City. With every veil the monument becomes a more lively and vibrant reflection of support for the people of Iran, helping build public awareness and a sense of community for all who pass by.
By Mark Westall
 |
\Nushin Sabet, Et al. 2022-23, Scarves, Varying Sizes |
DEC 10, 2022
 |
| Someone had added a white office label with Kian's name. I replaced it with the gold vinyl letters to match the others. |
JAN 17, 2024
Nadereh's husband, Parviz, was executed along with other political prisoners in Iran in 1988. When I noticed his name tattooed on her arm, I asked her to meet me at the Freedom Structure. These photos by Amir Soltani document what happened that night.
Nadereh honors Parviz on the Gold Cylinder
__________
Look closely at the pictures of me as Nasrin, the protestor, and you will see a small bobble hanging from a chain wrapped around my wrist.
__________________________________
>This project proposal is not officially endorsed by any person or organization mentioned on this webpage.>>Special Thanks to Amir Soltani and Will Foster.
>>>Previous related work: Irreverence in Paradise, Aspen, Colorado, 1989-1996
