Persian folklore tells the story of a Bulbul, a nightingale who fell so in love with their white rose that they clutched its thorns to their breast and bled resulting in the deep color of the pink damask, Rosa damascene.
In many ways, the Bulbul of this story mirrors my own journey. This database serves as both an archive and a soft monument—a space where I honor and reclaim what has been taken in wars. It is my hope that it will nurture gardens into bloom and immortalize the lives of martyrs.
In the posts that follow, I will share the experiences and research that have shaped this project, including dialogues with mountain-dwelling dervishes and esteemed rosarians. The first leg of my research began in 2015, and expanded with the support of many kind friends and the Creative Capital Foundation. Through this endeavor, I’ve had the privilege of pursuing my instincts around pathways to decolonization.