All last few years for people of middle east, and last months more for Europeans and Afghans were full of news related to war and conflicts which were produced by powers and unfortunately made common people to pay the price by their lives. It is years we think what is solution? Unfortunately, the answer is not simple and straightforward. But I believe to one thing: if the majority of the world decides, the situation will be much better. Last months’ news about blood shedding in Afghanistan and Ukraine, made me sad truly. Looking at Earth Globe models and thinking to the wars and conflicts brought back an old Persian mythological bird to my brain: Simorgh سیمرغ. The meaning of “Simorgh” as a word is 30 birds. Farid ud-Din Attar, commonly known as Attar of Nishapur, the great gnostic Persian poet, has a book named “The Conference of the Birds or Speech of the Birds (Persian: منطق الطیر)”. In brief, it tells how birds gathered and decided to find Simorgh, the king of birds in a far land called Qaf mountains. During the journey they faced many hardships and many of them stopped to continue the effort. Finally 30 birds reached the Qaf mountain and realised, actually they themselves together were Simorgh. In fact the wish they had was in themselves. I tried to visualise the concept in my painting. Birds are symbol of humans from different parts of the earth, joining for unity. I thought my Simorgh should carry the olive branchs as symbol of peace, the need of our green planet, our unique home.

If you live in Leeds, I can deliver it personally not by post.