The performance “I am a Citizen of the World” was created during a period of political unrest in Iran, amidst the global challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The performance follows a figure who embodies peace, symbolized by a white cloth, which the performer “gives birth to” as a gesture of hope and renewal in the face of ongoing wars, tensions, and the environmental destruction contributing to climate change. This symbolic birth of peace contrasts with the violence and turmoil surrounding the performer, who carries this peace within their body, despite external forces of destruction, political persecution, and environmental degradation.
The audience is invited to throw blood-red color at the performer, symbolizing the wars and violence that plague the Middle East, or to halt the aggression. The performer’s act of cleaning the blood from the stage reflects a commitment to peace, even in the face of overwhelming external conflict. Through silence and expression, with only the word “peace” spoken, the performer challenges the audience, shifting them from passive observers to active participants, urging reflection on their own role in a world fraught with environmental and political tensions.
At the conclusion of the performance, the performer collapses lifeless, offering the white cloth to an audience member, starting a collective act of healing as the audience spontaneously joins in to clean the stage with scarves and handkerchiefs. This communal act of care highlights the power of unity and collective action in addressing the pressing issues of war, climate change, and regional conflicts, transforming the performance into a shared, transformative experience for all involved.
Humans are feeling sadness…
Earth is feeling sadness…
People are dying from natural disasters…
One father kills another’s son in war…
One husband kills another’s wife in war…
Each person is a mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, or friend to somebody.
The reason for killing another person is just delusion.
My country is Earth…
My country is the World.
And I am a Citizen of the World…
Borders are established by other people…
Performer: Nazanin Tamoradi
Photo Credit: Hanieh (Raha) Ansari
