The performance titled "Rouge" or “RED” took place in February 2023 in an art space in Bushwick, Brooklyn, showcasing a powerful collaboration between director and visual artist Melody Hesaraky and model Naz Gharai. This event brought together a collective of female artists who each contributed their voices and experiences, weaving a narrative that transcended borders, nationalities, and genders.
"RED" explored the pervasive themes of conflict and war, emphasizing that suffering is a universal human experience. In a world where inequality and injustice are rampant, the need to identify oneself by gender or nationality highlights the ignorance that often clouds our understanding of shared humanity.
Hesaraky's performance presented womanhood as both a gift and a challenge. The daily struggles faced by women across the globe reflect a fight not only for survival but for recognition and respect. The female body, a recurrent subject of objectification and persecution throughout history, was honored as a living canvas, breaking taboos surrounding nudity and the human form.
Hesaraky's artistic vision seeks to liberate physicality from fear and encourages a reevaluation of societal judgments that inhibit our collective progress. By embracing vulnerability through art, she invites audiences to confront their biases and embrace a more profound understanding of our shared existence.
