Looking through the lenses of scientists and artists, I attempt to describe and understand the world around me. I use a variety of mediums, such as printmaking, ceramic, video art, installation, and sculpture, to convey my concern for ecological disturbances caused by human behavior. Specifically, I am exploring the phenomena of drying up rivers and wetlands and the subsequent desertification. Listening to the news from my home country, Iran, I heard that the water of the Miankaleh Wetland was drying up. Flamingos who had migrated to this wetland were discovered deceased due to botulism caused by the low water level. In south Iran, bulls who needed to wade in the wetlands to cool down were found with burned skin. I discovered that this environmental occurrence is happening in other parts of the world, like The Great Salt Lake in Utah, The Caspian Sea in Russia and Iran, and La Mancha in Spain. Photographs of these catastrophes profoundly affected me and made me question our responsibility to preserve these natural resources for the next generation.

Salt is the combination of 2 minerals called sodium chloride; sodium is an alkali, and chloride is acidic. Salt is essential for human life, from preserving food to significance in religious ceremonies. In some cases, salt has become more valuable than gold, leading nations to war. Through my research, I have discovered that salt is a clue or sign of an impending ecological disaster. Water levels go down through osmosis, and salt travels up through the soil’s surface. I have harnessed this process and integrated it into my printmaking and sculpture, creating eroded portraits of nature that warn of future ecological impact.