Buffered_Access
Buffered_Access investigates how states use the legal principle of Ius sanguinis—the “right of blood”—to regulate diasporic bodies and movement. The project emerged from my personal experience of never being able to visit my family in Iran, and the questions raised by what might happen if I did. Iranian law defines anyone with an Iranian father as a citizen, regardless of birthplace or residence. For my family, this legal framework has made visiting the country difficult, compounded by fears passed down through generations.
The installation is a mixed-media work comprising a looping video essay, a research booklet with screenshots from Chadegan, the place where my grandfather grew up and a sculptural cable carpet. Referencing Persian ornamentation, the black cables trace a fragile digital network across the floor, navigating memory, longing, and the invisible boundaries of belonging.
Buffered_Access investigates how states use the legal principle of Ius sanguinis—the “right of blood”—to regulate diasporic bodies and movement. The project emerged from my personal experience of never being able to visit my family in Iran, and the questions raised by what might happen if I did. Iranian law defines anyone with an Iranian father as a citizen, regardless of birthplace or residence. For my family, this legal framework has made visiting the country difficult, compounded by fears passed down through generations.
The installation is a mixed-media work comprising a looping video essay, a research booklet with screenshots from Chadegan, the place where my grandfather grew up and a sculptural cable carpet. Referencing Persian ornamentation, the black cables trace a fragile digital network across the floor, navigating memory, longing, and the invisible boundaries of belonging.
The video incorporates street-view images uploaded by people in Iran, as platforms like Google Street View do not exist there. These images offer personal views of a space that remained physically difficult to access for me. The research for this work has shown that in some cases, the actual legal barrier is not as strong as the emotional one. A fear amplified by Western media and warnings from the German Office for Foreign Affairs, particularly for dual passport holders, extends the reach of the regime beyond its actual apacity and focus.
The video will be accessible here after Dutch Design Week 2025.
See the work in person at the Graduation Show of the Design Academy Eindhoven.
See the work in person at the Graduation Show of the Design Academy Eindhoven.