Mostafa Azimitabar, KNS088 (self-portrait), (detail) 2022, coffee and acrylic on canvas, 190.5 x 191.8 cm

MY MESSAGE IS LOVE

Mostafa Azimitabar

March 1 2025 — June 1 2025

Mostafa ‘Moz’ Azimitabar’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of art.

Born in Iran in 1986, Moz grew up in a country where his Kurdish heritage made him vulnerable to persecution. Fleeing harsh circumstances, Moz sought asylum in Australia in 2013 and was detained on Manus Island for the following six and a half years. Moz was then moved to a Melbourne hotel, where he spent the next fourteen months before being released in 2021.

Despite these challenging conditions, Moz found solace and strength in his creativity. His work as an artist, musician, writer, and human rights activist became a form of resistance—one rooted in a message of unity and love.

For Moz, the theme of love is central, both in his art and his activism. His quote, “Love is how we kill the monsters. We are all one family, connected by our humanity,” speaks to the healing and revolutionary power of compassion, understanding, and solidarity.