Leila Hekmatnia

I intend to pursue three projects simultaneously during my two-month residency at the Saari Residence.

The first project, for me, is a kind of return to my hometown and roots—a genealogy with a tree-like structure, but not a genealogy of ancestors’ names. Instead, it’s a genealogy centered around the 5,000-year-old Abarkuh cypress tree, one of the oldest living beings on Earth. A tree that, like a living chronicle, preserves the stories of generations and past times, embodying a vital part of the cultural and environmental identity of the region.

In Iranian literature and culture, the cypress has always been a symbol of immortality, resilience, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The Abarkuh Cypress has long been shrouded in mystery and myth, acting as a witness to and collective memory of events across history. At times, this symbolic image has overshadowed its human and tangible aspects: the tree’s vulnerability to time, environmental changes, and human interventions. This contrast between the symbolic notion of immortality and its fragile reality forms the foundation of my work. Through revisiting myths, oral narratives, and travelogues, I aim to create both a performance poetry and an essay film.

Simultaneously, I will work on two ongoing projects. One is the distribution of my recently completed film, which explores the environmental impacts of drought and follows the last surviving woman in a village as she strives to stay and preserve her agricultural land. The other is a verbatim play about individuals who deliberately disappeared to start a new life.

Being at the Saari Residence, working amidst its pristine natural surroundings, offers a unique opportunity to expand my ideas in harmony with the environment. This residency provides a space removed from the rush of urban life, allowing me to reflect calmly on nature and the essence of my projects. I also hope to draw inspiration from the perspectives and knowledge of the local community about their connection with nature—insights that could bring a fresh and vibrant outlook to advancing my work.