The Art Persists Podcast
by Bosla Arts
The Art Persists Podcast is a series offering a glimpse into the life of artists and activists bridging the arts, activism, and human rights around the world. Brought to you by Bosla Arts.
Podcast episodes
Season 7
Reihane Taravati on Photographing Nobel Prize Winner Narges Mohammadi
For our Season 7 finale, we are joined by Iranian photographer and activist Reihane Taravati. Reihane shares her story of growing up in Iran and the significant challenges she faced as a young woman pursuing a career in photography. In April 2022, she had the unique opportunity to photograph Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist and human rights defender, during a brief release from prison. These powerful images would later be used to announce Narges' winning of the Nobel Prize. Today, she remains behind bars. Reihane reflects on the profound responsibility she felt in capturing Narges in her home environment that day. If you’re enjoying the Art Persists podcast, please consider leaving a review wherever you listen. With your support, we can ensure these vital stories reach more listeners. Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-reihane-taravati Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/
Hanna Komar on Poetry and the Belarusian Struggle
This week, we’re joined by Belarusian poet, translator, and writer Hanna Komar. Hanna shares her early life, growing up in a small village in Belarus, where she found comfort in poetry, and later discovered the power of writing poetry in Belarusian rather than Russian. She recounts the nationwide protests following the rigged presidential elections in Belarus, in which long-time President Lukashenka seized power once again. The protests were met with a fierce crackdown on activists, leading to Hanna and thousands of others being imprisoned. While sharing her story, Hanna also recites some of her deeply powerful and emotive poetry. She concludes by telling us about her upcoming play, Body in Progress, coming to London next month. As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard. Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-hanna-komar Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/
Peter Kennard's Archive of Dissent
This week, we are joined by artist and activist Peter Kennard. Since the 1970s, Kennard has produced some of the world’s most influential works of resistance and protest. From the Vietnam War and the anti-Apartheid movement to the war in Ukraine and the siege on Gaza, Peter’s five decades of work have been dedicated to fighting for justice and holding power to account. We talk at length about his career, as well as his latest exhibition, Archive of Dissent, currently on display at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard. Learn more: https://boslaarts.com/tapp-peter-kennard Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/
Creating a Global Movement with Kites in Solidarity
This week, we are joined by Melissa Bolivar, founder of Kites in Solidarity—a grassroots movement of volunteers founded in 2023 in response to the ongoing siege of Gaza. Melissa shares with us her decision to start Kites in Solidarity. After witnessing the horrors of the siege in Gaza through her phone every day, she felt compelled to take action. Since then, the movement has grown across the UK and around the world—a tribute to the power of collective solidarity. As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard. Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-kites-in-solidarity Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/
Art & Resistance in Afghanistan post-Taliban Takeover with ArtLords
On the latest episode of Art Persists, we speak to Omaid Sharifi, Co-Founder & CEO of ArtLords, a grassroots movement founded in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014, driven by the desire to harness the transformative power of art. We talk to Omaid about the early days of ArtLords, where he and group of artists and volunteers would paint the empty walls of Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan with murals, focused on bringing communities together. He tells us about August 2021 where the Taliban retook control over Afghanistan and the devastating days that have followed since - Omaid now lives in exile in the USA. He goes on to tell us about the incredible work that ArtLords continues to do today, both in Afghanistan and out, and the hope he still holds to one day return to his country. As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard. Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-artlords Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/