Every Iranian artist, in one form or another, is political. Politics have defined our lives.

Art is our weapon. Culture is a form of resistance.

I find that through the study of women, you get to the heart - the truth - of the culture.

In this Western world that we have, culture risks being [only] a form of entertainment.

Being political is an integral part of being Iranian. Our lives are defined by politics.

Art is no crime. It's every artist's responsibility to make art that is meaningful

Poets use metaphors and symbolism to construct images. I construct my images in the same way, except that I am using a different form.

Beautiful woman wrapped in chadors, with huge machine guns in their hands. Brilliant, shocking, amazingly contradictory images. They compelled me to deeply investigate these ideas.

To me, editing is not something you can do in a rush because the artists themselves are not always their own best editors. Time is absolutely everything.

Nature has the most powerfully healing effect.

My mother is my last point of security in relation to my past, and if that breaks, I will not ever have that type of pure love or pure attachment.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

I don't think those who die are any better than those who stay alive. They just look better. They can't mess anything up anymore.

If I can, I love staying in pajamas all day and watching movies and eating good food.

True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes, but a world was too little for Alexander.

I used to love fast food because I had no money, and I was a struggling actor.

The leftist drive for control is insatiable.

With warning hand I mark Time's rapid flight, From Life's glad morning to its solemn night; Yet, through the dear Lord's love, I also show There's light above me by the shade I throw.

Evolution is the secret for the next step.

I don't really have a process. I just start working and keep going until it's done.

You know, you pick and choose your battles.