Artist and refugee Mostafa Azimitabar on painting from a hostile country

When Mostafa Azimitabar was imprisoned on Manus Island, he was overcome with a desire to paint.

With no art supplies, he used a toothbrush – a technique he continues with to this day.

Mostafa survived the brutality of Australia’s asylum seeker detention system for more than eight years. Freed in 2021, he now lives in Sydney.

His art has been shortlisted for the Archibald prize twice. But he paints from the edges of a country whose systems remain hostile towards him, as he navigates temporary visas with no stability, at constant risk of deportation.

Today, artist and refugee Mostafa Azimitabar on how his work is a testimony to his suffering and the one thing authorities can never take from him.

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest: Artist and refugee, Mostafa Azimitabar.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.