Art by Anika

This year, as I was setting up my Haft-Seen,
I felt something different.
With each item I placed,
a memory from this past winter came to mind.
I added tulips,
quietly…
for those who are no longer with us.
It was a hard winter,
heavier than ever.
But now it’s spring…
and despite all the sadness,
there is still something:
hope.
A small hope,
breathing quietly,
but refusing to disappear.
For me, this Nowruz
is, above all,
about that hope. 🌱
For context:
Nowruz (the Persian New Year) marks the first day of spring and is celebrated in Iran and several other countries.
Haft-Seen is a traditional table set for this occasion, where each item symbolizes concepts such as life, renewal, and hope.

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Art by Anika

💚🤍❤️🕊🕊🕊

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Art by Anika

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Art by Anika

یک روز رنگ‌ها تیره و عمیق‌اند،
یک روز روشن و شفاف،
یک روز فقط آبی
یک روز بافت و لایه لایه،
یک روز ساده و مینیمال،
یک روز کلاژ، یک روز روغن، یک روز ترکیب همه‌چیز....
این تنوع برای من سردرگمی نیست.
زندگی کردنه و تجربه کردن
راهی برای شناختن خودم
راهیه برای رشد کردن در همه جهت‌ها، نه فقط یک مسیر باریک...

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Art by Anika

“If you find your world has collapsed,
gather the pieces that remain whole
and continue your journey.”

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Art by Anika

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Art by Anika

“May the morning sky of your days be filled with dandelions bringing good news.”🥰🧚‍♀️💝

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Art by Anika

“Performing at the Verre Binding Festival in Rozet, Arnhem”

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Art by Anika

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Art by Anika

My Poem and Illustrations Published in a Special Collection!

Eight people, eight stories, eight perspectives. For nine weeks, we gathered at the Schrijfwerkplaats in Rozet Arnhem, founded by Marjolein Visser and guided by writer Sam Theunissen. During this time, we wrote, rewrote, and transformed our thoughts and experiences into words.

The result? A wonderful collection compiled by Wintertuin, filled with personal histories and imagined worlds. I am proud and grateful that my poem and illustrations have been included in this publication. What makes it even more special is that the participants themselves selected illustrations from my work to be featured in the book—an honor that truly touches me.

On Thursday evening, March 20, we presented this book in a special gathering. It was an unforgettable night where we shared our stories and experienced the audience's reactions firsthand.

A big thank you to Wintertuin, Marjolein Visser, Sam Theunissen, and my fellow writers for this inspiring journey!


#Wintertuin #Schrijfwerkplaats #Publication #CreativeWriting #Illustration #PowerOfStories

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