MONMONDESIGN by Mona W.

It is one week into the Iranian New Year, Norouz, and my emotions are all over the place. My country and its people are living through a total blackout, shaped by war, caught between internal repression and external forces. It is a painful contrast. This is a set I designed for a one-off Norouz special for Afghanistan International TV. The theme was centred around dreams, creating a dreamlike world where the audience could escape, even if only for a two-hour live show, from the harsh reality of life under the Taliban, holding a country and its people hostage, much like the Islamic Republic has done for 47 years. I hope that next year, Iranians and Afghans can celebrate Norouz in their own countries, without repression, and with nothing but freedom. Happy Norouz Production Design: @monmondesign Floristry: @gaiaerosflorals Construction Manager: @madebythefish Construction: @rdwscenery Construction: @constructive_creative Producer: @shirin.psych Production: Afghan TV Norouz @afintl.tv #norouz #setlife #iranian #afghan #setdesign

The Iranian New Year explained👇🏽 What is Norouz? More than 300 million people celebrate Norouz every year. Norouz is the national New Year festivity celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, and the Kurdish regions of Iraq, Turkey and Syria, and throughout Central Asia. It begins at the spring equinox - the moment when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length. Usually, this is between 19-21 March, depending on astronomical calculations. A springtime celebration whose activities symbolise rebirth and the link between humans and nature. The Iranian poet Saadi (1210-1291) wrote: “Awaken, the morning Norouz breeze is showering the garden with flowers.” How do you prepare for Norouz? Preparations for Norouz celebrations in Iran begin weeks before the start of spring, including house-cleaning (khaneh takani). Families also grow sabzeh (wheat, barley, mung bean or lentils) in a dish. When the greens sprout after a couple of weeks, the dish is placed on the Haft-seen table, which is the focus of Nowruz observance. It is joined by six other symbolic items which start with the Persian letter “seen” or S. That makes seven, a sacred number in Zoroastrianism. They include: seeb (apples) - symbol of health and beauty senjed (dried oleaster berries) - wisdom and rebirth samanu (wheat pudding) - strength/justice somaq (sumac) – patience serkeh (vinegar) - age/patience seer (garlic) - cleansing of body and environment The Haft-seen spread also includes other items such as a mirror, symbolising reflection; coloured eggs, for fertility; and goldfish in a bowl, which represent life. There is usually also a book by the Persian poet Hafez (1315-1390). It reflect Norouze’s power to blend its ancient roots with more cultural traditions. Source: MiddleEastEye Production Design: @monmondesign Floristry: @gaiaerosflorals Set build: @rdwscenery Producer: @shirin.psych Production: Afghan Nowrouz @afintl.tv #norouz #iraniannewyear #spring #equinox #freeiran

TONIGHT IS OUR ANCIENT PERSIAN FESTIVAL OF FIRE 🔥🔥🔥🧿🧿🧿🔥🔥🔥 CHAHARSHANBE SOORI IS AN IRANIAN FESTIVAL CELEBRATED ON THE EVE OF THE LAST TUESDAY BEFORE NOROUZ (IRANIAN NEW YEAR] IT IS A PRELUDE TO NOROUZ WHICH MARKS THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPRING SEASON. USUALLY PEOPLE ARE MAKING BONFIRES IN THE STREETS AND JUMPING OVER THEM. WE BELIEVE WITH JUMPING OVER BONFIRES IS A WAY OF TAKING AWAY NECATIVE ENERGY, SICKNESS, AND PROBLEMS AND IN TURN GETTING FULFILLMENT, WARMTH, AND ENERGY. FIRE AND LIGHT STANDS AND IS HOPED FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS THROUGH THE COMING YEAR. THIS IS THE ANCIENT FESTIVAL OF IRAN, AZERBAIJAN, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, TAJIKESTAN AND TURKEY AND DATE GOES BACK AT LEAST 1700 BCE. ANCIENT ORIGIN OF THE CHAHARSHANBE SOORI: THE FESTIVAL HAS ITS ORIGIN IN ANCIENT IRANIAN RITUALS. THE ANCIENT IRANIANS CELEBRATED THE FESTIVAL OF HAMASPATHMAEDAYA (HAMASPAOMAÉDAYA], THE LAST FIVE DAYS OF THE YEAR IN HONOR OF THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD, WHICH IS TODAY REFERRED TO AS FARVARDINEGAN. #4shanbesoori #chaharshanbesoori #firefest #iran #freeiran

Wishing you all a jolly and peaceful Christmas. Gather close, laugh loud, make memories that glow long after. May the table be full, the moments linger, and the warmth last longer than the season. 🌲❣️❄️🎀❄️🎀❄️❣️🌲 #christmas #christmasdecorations #christmascrystals #snow #frost #red #pov #christmaseveeve

“And don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It’s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.” -Rumi- 🌲❄️🧊💎🌲 #winter #poem #rumi #itsbeginingtolookalotlikechristmas #frost #decoration #christmasdecorations

I loved working on this project. It moved me deeply, and I always knew it would make a difference. Thank you @simonharrisfilm for bringing me on board such a meaningful, magical journey. Head to @littlevillagehq and make your contribution, help make someone’s Christmas extraordinary. ✨A small act can mean everything✨ /form/ Client: Little Village @littlevillagehq Director/ Producer: Simon Harris @simonharrisfilm DOP: Liam Landoli Art Director: Mona Wishkahi @monmondesign

“It’s your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” - Rumi

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” -Walt Whitman

THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF SPREADING LIGHT: TO BE THE CANDLE OR THE MIRROR THAT REFLECTS IT... ✨🧿✨🧿✨🧿✨🧿✨🧿✨🧿✨ #feelingblessed #grateful #mirriorselfie #nofilter

The Package by Sebastian Fitzek—this was my first time working with the amazing Simon Harris (Director extraordinaire!), and since then, we’ve teamed up on some fantastic projects. I had such a great time creating this intense, suspenseful world for the launch of Fitzek’s novel The Package! #production #horrormovies #spooky #artdirection #halloweenseason #setlife #artdirection #halloween

Unlike my previous post, where I joked that the spookiest thing was wrapping up filming early, I definitely can’t say the same for my time at ManotoTV! In fact, the scariest part might be that I can’t remember ever leaving the studios on time at the end of a workday. I practically lived at that channel, my second home for four years. I had the chance to create some amazing sets, work with incredibly talented people, make lifelong friends, and dive into some fantastic productions. But most of all, I learned so much, and I’ll always cherish those memories - even with the crazy hours. Halloween, in particular, was probably the most fun project to work on. With the tiniest budget, you could create an epic set and somehow make trash look good 👻🧟‍♀️💀🧟☠️🧟‍♂️. In 2017, I was working on the M+ Halloween special show, where the entire studio had to scream “Halloween.” So, naturally, I decided to cover the entire set in spiderwebs 🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸. The setup took us about two days, but it was worth every strand of silk! Here are some behind-the-scenes shots of the setup 🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸🕸 #production #spooky #tvlife #bts #artdirection #setdesign #halloween

Happy Halloween 🎃 Murder in the Wicked West showcases some of the most compelling murders committed in remote towns across the western US. These can be some of the hardest cases for police to crack. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL 2022) I art directed two episodes (this trailer is for one episode), recreating key elements of the story. It was a fantastic experience working alongside such a great team. #production #documentary #dicoverychannel #halloween #spooky #filmproduction #artdirection #setlife