A Selection, Not an Election - June 12, 2009, Iran

I don't know how many sleepless nights I experienced and how much I cried during those first few weeks following Iran's most recent Presidential election. Thanks to Youtube, Twitter and Facebook, we were kept up to date on what's really happening on land. However, I couldn't reach my father or the rest of my family during those first few days, which was making me go insane! Eventually, I got hold of my father and he seemed to be OK, although he had gone to the first major protest. He said it was the first time, after the first revolution that he had seen such a massive number of people from all age groups and walks of life gathered in one place.

So many images and videos poured out everyday and I knew that I had to paint one of them. I chose this one because of the expression on his face. I like to play Yas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN6pLQ98c58) or Shahin Najafi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUf23GcT924) in the background while I paint. This was my 3rd oil on canvas, by the way. Again, the hands!