A Iranian peep-box (shahre-farang) is being held by Canadian customs as contravening Canadian trade sanctions – even though the Canadian government funded it an artwork.
This has got to be one of the dumbest sanctions ever.
Please show your support for the artist, Sadaf Foroughi, by e-signing her petition here.
Shahre-farang were traditionally made of thin tin and were used to show pictures to Iranian children – to give glimpses into places around the world that average Iranians would probaby never visit. Sadaf Foroughi was born in Iran, but is now a Canadian resident. She is a film-maker and video artist and she planned to show videos instead of photographs in the shahre-farang.
Some of her photos are (for sale) on the Saatchi website here.
And here is a very lovely little video of hers: My Favourite Chessboard – on visible minorities