‘Before, I was afraid of everything. Now, I have found my freedom’

Mojgan Habibi, in Nice, July 2025. THÉRÈSE VERRAT AND VINCENT TOUSSAINT FOR M LE MAGAZINE DU MONDE

I grew up in Isfahan, a beautiful historic city in central Iran. I loved my childhood there. I went to university, studied education and the arts. I worked to pay for my studies and earned a degree to become an elementary school teacher. I lived surrounded by art and crafts: My mother taught weaving and carpet making, and she would sing while she worked. My father created remedies with plants, and my brother played music. I was part of a large family that sang, danced, cooked – even though there was the war with Iraq, even though sometimes I was afraid.

Even now, when a pot falls, I jump and think about the war. Thankfully, there was art. For me, art is everywhere. You just have to look and use what nature gives us – plants, water, light… I taught myself to paint and to do calligraphy, and then became an art teacher at school. I love working with children, reinventing life by creating it. It’s like being a psychologist, healing the mind and the heart with art.

You have 76.75% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.