Elena Masrour – Waking Up Was the Worst Idea?!

“Waking Up Was the Worst Idea?” presents fifteen intaglio prints that examine the psychological and political impact of religious propaganda, censorship, and authoritarian control in post-revolutionary Iran—especially as experienced by Iranian women. Through layered symbolism and a blend of surrealism with comic book aesthetics, the series explores resistance, memory, identity, and the emotional burden of awakening. By drawing on the visual language of American comics, I invite viewers to a more accessible entry point where playfulness and critique coexist, highlighting the surreal contradictions that women navigate under systemic restrictions. Masrour is in the Martin McDonald Hall Gallery from September 4 – October 31, 2026.