23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
The bird

This work is a personal interpretation inspired by Suhrawardi’s “Treatise of the Birds” and represents the journey of the human soul toward transcendence and liberation. The piece is a symbol of the bird and reflects the human spirit, which in the estrangement and darkness of life searches for its true essence. The free and curving design of this piece conveys the feeling of flight, while its twists and turns represent the mental barriers and challenges encountered on the path to liberation. “The birds are still on their way… and this journey continues forever.”

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Mashhad, Iran
Copyright: © Parisa Akhtari