Roshi Rouzbehani explores migration, memory and identity through the keepsakes of Iranian women

What does a small cutting from a grandmother's plant, carefully wrapped and carried across borders, say about the migrant experience? For Iranian illustrator and author Roshi Rouzbehani, such objects are more than just belongings – they are emotional anchors, holding memories, identity, and connections to loved ones left behind.

Her latest project, Migrated Keepsakes, brings these stories to life, exploring the personal significance of objects carried by Iranian women as they embark on journeys of migration, displacement, and reinvention.

The seed for Migrated Keepsakes was planted in 2011 when Rouzbehani herself left Iran. Limited in what she could bring with her, the few keepsakes she carried began to take on profound emotional weight over time. "They weren't just reminders of home but emotional anchors, carrying pieces of my identity and connections to loved ones," Rouzbehani says.

This personal reflection led to a bigger question: What keepsakes did other Iranian women carry – and what stories did those objects hold?

To find out, Rouzbehani put out a simple question on social media: "What unnecessary thing would you never leave behind due to emotional attachment?" The responses she received were overwhelmingly personal, sometimes unexpected, and always powerful.

From jewellery handed down through generations to letters, spices, and even plants, every object carried its own emotional freight — symbols of love, loss, defiance, and survival.

Shifting the lens on Iranian women's migration

For Rouzbehani, focusing on Iranian women's stories was essential. Migration narratives often centre on politics, policy, and statistics. Personal stories, particularly those of women, are either overlooked or reduced to footnotes.

"For many Iranian women, migration isn't just about crossing borders; it's an existential rupture," she explains. "It means leaving behind family, traditions, language, and a sense of belonging."

By focusing on everyday objects, Migrated Keepsakes reframes these experiences, drawing attention to the emotional layers of migration. Each object becomes a tangible reminder of a life left behind, a silent witness to the upheaval, and a piece of continuity in an unfamiliar new world.

"Keepsakes serve as emotional lifelines, preserving what had to be left behind," says Rouzbehani. "By telling these stories through objects, the book becomes a collective archive of Iranian women's migration experiences — profoundly personal, emotional, and human."

Blending illustration and narrative

The book itself is a delicate balance of visual storytelling and written narrative, with Rouzbehani's distinct illustration style giving form to these personal relics. Her approach emphasises simplicity, often showing objects in isolation, either floating on the page or held in the hands of their owners. This visual language reinforces both the separation from home and the object's significance in a new context.

"I wanted to stay as true as possible to each keepsake, focusing on how the women described them," says Rouzbehani. "Illustration goes beyond mere representation — it has the power to evoke emotions and create a deep sense of connection."

To capture the emotional weight of each object, Rouzbehani focused on the tiniest imperfections, such as worn edges, faded engravings, and the patina of use that turns ordinary items into vessels of history and identity. These subtle visual cues invite readers to imagine the hands that have held them and the journeys they have witnessed.

Some objects — particularly those belonging to women who were political prisoners — carried even greater symbolic weight. "Conveying both pain and resilience in their objects was one of the most meaningful aspects of this project," Rouzbehani reflects.

A tapestry of memory, identity, and resilience

As the stories accumulated, certain themes began to emerge. Identity and resilience were ever-present threads, with keepsakes acting as both extensions of self and reminders of strength. Nostalgia, love, and loss also wove their way through many stories, with keepsakes becoming both comfort and burden, reminding their owners of what was lost and proof of survival.

"Keepsakes hold history, memory, and emotion," Rouzbehani explains. "In a new and unfamiliar environment, they provide continuity — a tangible link to the past while navigating the uncertainties of the present."

Through working on the book, Rouzbehani's own perspective on migration evolved. "It reinforced that migration isn't just a physical act; it's an emotional and existential transformation," she says. "Carrying a piece of home isn't just about a physical keepsake — it's about preserving who we are and where we come from."

Building community through storytelling

Migrated Keepsakes is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, a platform Rouzbehani turned to after a successful campaign for her previous book, 50 Inspiring Iranian Women. "Kickstarter allows creators to connect directly with their audience, making supporters feel invested in the project's success," she says.

The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with strong support from both the Iranian diaspora and wider creative communities. "It's heartening to see people come together to celebrate these stories and help preserve them for future generations," says Rouzbehani.

But for her, the book is only the beginning. She envisions Migrated Keepsakes as a platform for wider conversation — one that could grow into workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions where others are invited to share their own migration stories. "This is more than a book," she says. "It's a conversation starter around migration and identity."

A lasting legacy

Ultimately, Rouzbehani hopes Migrated Keepsakes will resonate on multiple levels. For Iranian migrants, she wants it to offer recognition and validation, and for others, she hopes it sparks empathy and a deeper understanding of the emotional complexities of migration.

"More than anything, I want readers to see the shared humanity in these stories and understand the powerful role that keepsakes play in preserving identity and belonging," says Rouzbehani.

As for what's next, she's already thinking about future projects that continue to centre women's voices and explore the intersections of culture, memory, and identity. "This is only the beginning," she says. "There are so many stories still waiting to be told."