The issue of being Iranian or not is probably too simplistic to confine to identity documents that place the word "Iranian" opposite the term nationality. Being Iranian or not is just as meaningless as a sense of belonging tied to our homeland, to a country with a cat-shaped map amidst this turbulent geographical crossroads in West Asia. Nevertheless, the matter of being Iranian or not seems to spark a question in the minds of many residents of this country or those who have left it, be it during a national celebration when our emotions run high or in times of social crises or collective
grief when it chokes us. The title registered in our identity papers opposite our nationality should carry meanings beyond just a mere label. It's then that a reflection on the historical past, often glorified, comes to the rescue, balancing culture and literature or articulating general statements to describe what we mean by being Iranian The current exhibition is an effort by those who, in various forms, were searching for an understanding of what is commonly referred to as national identity, with all the contradictions and conflicts it contains.