IRAN: Disabled Iranian artist Zohreh Etezad does not allow her disability get in the way of her creativity

Record ID: 312690

  • Title: IRAN: Disabled Iranian artist Zohreh Etezad does not allow her disability get in the way of her creativity
  • Date: 29th January 2008
  • Summary: (MER1) TEHRAN, IRAN (RECENT) (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) DISABLED ARTIST ZOHREH ETEZAD SITTING IN HER LIVING ROOM WITH HER FATHER VARIOUS OF PAINTINGS BY ETEZAD ETEZAD PAINTING IN HER ROOM VARIOUS OF ETEZAD PAINTING USING HER FEET AND TOES TO HOLD THE PAINT BRUSH CLOSE-UP OF PAINT BRUSHES (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) DISABLED ARTIST ZOHREH ETEZAD SAYING: "I don't feel any difference between myself and normal people (who paint). I am so fast and quick that I actually forget sometimes that I am working with my feet. I do whatever I need to and I don't have any problems. I never consider myself to be a disabled person." ETEZAD LOOKING THROUGH TUBES OF OIL PAINTS WITH HER FEET ETEZAD UNSCREWING CAP FROM TUBE OF PAINT WITH HER FEET/ ETEZAD PICKING UP PALETTE WITH HER FEET MORE OF ETEZAD PAINTING WITH HER FEET (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) DISABLED ARTIST ZOHREH ETEZAD SAYING: "One of my main motivations was to prove to society that disability does not mean limitation. It is not right to evaluate a person according to his or her appearance. A disabled person shouldn't be deprived of anything." ETEZAD PAINTING WITH HER FEET CLOSE OF ETEZAD'S FACE MORE OF ETEZAD PAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) DISABLED ARTIST ZOHREH ETEZAD SAYING: "The best way was to start doing art. Art fed my soul and really helped me. I mean it increased my self confidence and made me comfortable (with myself)." ETEZAD SITTING IN HER ROOM WEAVING A RUG BALLS OF WOOL AND YARN HANGING ABOVE WEAVING MACHINE VARIOUS OF ETEZAD WEAVING USING HER FEET
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VIKIG8WXICUHXK5FB9KQRWIS
  • Story Text: Iranian artist Zohreh Etezad does not allow her disability to interfere with her creativity and uses her feet to paint and weave.
    Iranian artist Zohreh Etezad was born congenitally disabled without arms. After having dreamed of becoming an artist for many years, one day Etezad picked up a paint brush which she held between her toes and began to paint.
    It has now been more than 15 years since that day, and in that time, Etezad has achieved more than most artists would dream of achieving in a lifetime. Etezad has established herself as an important Iranian painter and she has exhibited her work at galleries in Iran, Turkey, Qatar, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Thailand and China.
    Etezad puts her success down to her positive attitude and says she has never thought of herself as a disabled person.

    "I don't feel any difference between myself and normal people (who paint). I am so fast and quick that I actually forget sometimes that I am working with my feet. I do whatever I need to and I don't have any problems. I never consider myself to be a disabled person," she says as she sits in her room adding the finishing touches to her latest masterpiece.
    Etezad has always shown courage in the face of adversity, and before embarking on her career as a professional artist, she tried out a number of other professions including teaching and administration.

    "One of my main motivations was to prove to society that disability does not mean limitation. It is not right to evaluate a person according to his or her appearance. A disabled person shouldn't be deprived of anything," she says.
    Now 45, Etezad says she is happy in the career she has chosen. Aside from being a skilled painter, Etezad has also began weaving carpets, all with only the use of her feet.
    Although she admits that she suffered the odd bout of depression in her younger years, Etezad says it was art and being creative that helped her through those difficult times.

    "The best way was to start doing art," she says.

    "Art fed my soul and really helped me. I mean it increased my self confidence and made me comfortable (with myself)," she adds.
    Etezad says that she looks at her disability as a gift because it acts as a driving force that pushes her to towards achieving her goals.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register