Tina Dion's 'Behind Cypress Forests' at T293 Rome Explores Iranian Cultural Symbols Through Painting

Tina Dion, an Iranian-American artist born in Tehran in 1992, will showcase her inaugural solo exhibition at T293 in Rome, named 'Behind Cypress Forests / پشت جنگل‌های سرو', from March 13 to April 17, 2026. This exhibition features oil on linen pieces that integrate archival materials from Iran's 1940s through the 1979 revolution, including images of aristocratic women. To create a contrast between painted and interrupted sections, Dion applies adhesive tape to faces. The titles of her works draw inspiration from Persian songs, evoking feelings of nostalgia and distance. The cypress tree, a symbol of resilience in Iranian culture, plays a significant role as Dion merges Persian elements with her North American experience, emphasizing the political implications of female hair in Iran while obscuring faces to challenge conventional portrayals.