Using concrete in the construction along the rills of the streets, the use of salt in winter to melt snow, and the recent drought are among the main causes of dehydration and death of the trees on Vali-Asr Street—Tehran’s longest and one of its oldest streets, famous for its very tall, historic trees. These conditions angered many Tehran residents and environmental activists. After numerous objections and debates, the process of replanting and changing management practices finally began. However, what remained were dozens of dead trees and old tree trunks that needed to be addressed.

For the past few years, at the end of each winter, the City Hall of Tehran has initiated a project called Derakhtestan. In this project, selected artists are invited to propose individual artworks for a dead tree.

Vandalism is, unfortunately, a common act in many societies, and trees are often among its primary victims. This became the inspiration for my Derakhtestan project. Writing or carving on a tree to record a date, a feeling, a situation, or even simply one’s existence seems, for some people, more powerful than the love for nature or the fear of breaking the law.

But I wondered: if people were given the opportunity to write or carve on a tree without rushing or fearing punishment, what would they truly leave behind? It is interesting to discover what occupies the minds of ordinary people in their everyday lives and what feels important to them at a particular moment.

—Sara Roohisefat