You may have heard many stories about the award nomination in different fields and of different nature. Maybe, many of you may have known the award nomination for best acting, or best singer or only the well-known celebrities often opt for awards. Here we will be talking about a well-known man who took refuge in Australia and got nominated for his outstanding skills in painting.
A refugee who spent 8 years or 2737 days in Australian detention. And then nominated for the award for the best of best art portraits. This famous one is none other than the Mostafa Azimitabar, widely known as Moz Azimi. Also a famous musician as well as a known painter. This article will reveal the journey of Mostafa from Iran to Australia. The days he spent in detention and what encouraged him to not step back from his passion. So let us now get started.
Background Of Mostafa Azimitabar
Mostafa Azimitabar is a Kurdish-Iranian refugee who was detained by the Australian Government in Australia’s Immigration. He fled from his homeland in the year 2013 by boat. Later arrived on Christmas Island the same year in the month of July. It all started when Moz felt himself in danger while living in his own homeland. However, unfortunately, the decision he made to take refuge from Iran to Australia did not happen to be in his favor. He was then imprisoned on Christmas Island with more than 60 innocent people.
The journey then continues from the Island to a Melbourne Motel. This way he along with all the other refugee had to spend 8 years imprisoned illegally. Mostafa Azimitabar called life in the hotels the “Luxury Torcher Cell”.
Moz’s Life In Prison
Racist repression in his own homeland has made him refuge in Australia Which, in turn, came out to be a bad decision. The days passed in prison were unforgettable days. From his “Luxury Torcher Cell, ”Mostafa told his guardians that his only physical link from the outside world is the roadside window. and that too could open only a few centimeters. He would stand by it for hours to have a look at the protestors outside the hotel for their freedom. And also fresh air and noise from the outside come in.
The great Mostafa Azimitabar did not leave hope after being detained in prison in Australia. His first prison was the immigration hotel on Christmas Island which was the final destination of their boat. Even when he had to see one of his friends being attacked by the Police and Security Guards on Manus Island in 2014. Mostafa told the guardians about his friend “They killed our friend Reza Berati”. He also states that his friend was innocent like them and they killed him too.
Azimitabar also said that he knew that it would get worse day by day but did not expect it would be 6, 7, or 8 years. Moreover, Moz also shared how brutally the guards who were supposed to protect them killed one of their friends.
The Words Of Mostafa Azimitabar
During the time of his detention, Azimitabar wrote songs in his words about the way they have been in this “Luxury Torcher Cell”. He told his guardians about their circumstances while having to illegally spend their time in the hotels in Australia. He wrote the strings of endless thoughts which never left his mind during the painful time of detention. One after another, all the songs of Mostafa were touching the hearts of people.
Moreover, these lyrics of Moz Azimi also helped them to stay hopeful all the time. The song Love was written on the guitar which Jimmy Barnes gifted him. Later on, Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie did the production and the mixup. Azimitabar said that the piece he wrote is to thank everyone who supported him. Wrote letters in the favour of the refugee and stood outside their place waving and strengthening their hopes. Protestors were all over Australia to support them and bear witness.
About The Self Portrait KNS088
The internet has been flooded with the news of a refugee who got nominated for the Archibald Award 2022. The story of this nominated person is not a pleasant one as we all went through it recently. Coming to the nomination and the portrait Mostafa was nominated for was his own created self-portrait. The fact which makes Azimitabar’s self-portrait a special one is that it is created using a toothbrush. He had been experimenting with this technique since the year 2014 when they had been taken to another immigration hotel in Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. Mostafa shared how he began to start the portrait and the struggle he made for this.
“Can I have some paint? I would like to do some artwork because I do not want to give up.” Moz Azimi started by asking one of the officers on Manus. The officer rejected his wish by saying that he would attempt to harm himself by eating the paint. He then returned to the room frustrated and shared this with his other roommates. On a table in the room, Mostafa saw a toothbrush and a cup of coffee. He then started painting a piece of paper with the help of a toothbrush and coffee.
He named his portrait KNS088. His identity number with which he was called during the 8 years in detention.
