Yasaman Tamizkar, curator at NW and founder of Mosem Platform, invites you to a day of reflection and exchange in solidarity with Iran. Developed with Cultural Studies at KU Leuven, the programme brings together workshops, discussion, film and food to explore conflict, polarisation and critical thinking.

The day begins with a guided walk through Songs of Dissent, NW’s current exhibition, followed by an introduction to Iran’s recent history. This provides the starting point for two workshops:

• Atie Asadollahi, researcher at KU Leuven, considers polarisation and empathy in Iranian society after war;
• Juliana Parra, former lecturer in critical thinking and cultural criticism at Universidad Externado de Colombia and a Cultural Studies graduate from KU Leuven, leads a session on how conflict can be read, unpacked and understood.

The afternoon continues with a film and discussion moderated by Anneleen Masschelein, Associate Professor in Literary Theory and Cultural Studies at KU Leuven.

The day closes around a very special Iranian meal. Kitchen Stories prepares the food. Community of Listeners is responsible for the scenography and has invited the multidisciplinary artist Mona A. Shahi (IRN) and santoor player and composer Behnaz Tohidi (IRN) to create an artistic intervention during the dinner.

Live music and a voice-over bring to life a Persian myth about the struggle between light and darkness and humanity’s eternal quest for light. Against the backdrop of the conflict in Iran, this ancient story takes on contemporary resonance.

ABOUT COMMUNITY OF LISTENERS
Community of Listeners was founded by Helena Lemonnier (BE) and Mohsen Mahjoobi (IRN) in 2018 and is a multilingual storytelling platform centred on stories, rituals and music. During these gatherings, authentic stories are shared that resonate with our hyper-diverse society. Not only true stories, but also myths and tales on universal themes are featured. No single language is spoken here. However, a need to communicate gives rise to a common language – one that challenges the dominant narrative. After this shared journey between East and West, between then and now, participants are encouraged to pass on the stories they have heard. In this way, the listener becomes the storyteller.

Programme

13:00: Tour Songs of Dissent exhibition
14:00: Polarization and Empathy in Iranian Society post-war, workshop with Atie Asadollahi
15:30: Dissecting Conflict, workshop with Juliana Parra
17:00: Film + discussion, moderated by Anneleen Masschelein
19:00: Iranian communal dinner by Kitchen Stories and Community of Listeners
20:00: Public screening of Rehearsals for a Revolution (2026) by Pegah Ahangarani