Born in Tehran before moving to Australia in 1985, Nostograph 1 is part of Hootan Heydari’s enquiry into ideas of displacement, memory and disruption. Nostograph 1 is a key work from Hootan Heydari’s solo exhibition Yeki Bood, Yeki Nabood, which was held at the Counihan Gallery in 2022. ‘Yeki bood, yeki nabood’ means ‘one was there, one was absent’ in Farsi. It’s a phrase used to begin a story, similar to ‘once upon a time’. Yeki Bood, Yeki Nabood explored the compulsion to return to the past; to process trauma, but also to resist historical and cultural erasure. Yet memory is slippery; repeated exposure to images of the past blur and conflate with the artist’s memory. In Nostograph 1, Heydari attempts to remember and outline rooms and spaces from his childhood, as described by delicate strips of gold leaf. The gold leaf overlays an archival photograph of a crowd gathered during a mass demonstration during the 1979 Islamic revolution. In Nostograph 1, personal and public histories intersect.

A brochure produced in 1978 by the Royal Geographical Society, offering "by private invitation only" the opportunity for interested parties to purchase a print of the Bark 'Endeavour', in 24 karat gold and silver, of a very limited production run. The print was offered at $270 in 1978 - at not insignificant sum.Ornate paper and ink 3-page advertising brochure, in landscape orientation, from The Royal Geographical Society. The brochure is advertising the release of a commemorative framed silhouette print of the Bark 'Endeavour' in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain James Cook. Page 1 of the brochure consists of the Royal Geographical Society ensign at the top of the page and an introductory description of the commemoration, which is adorned above and below, with ink flourishes of curlicues and scrolls. Page 2 depicts an image of the framed silhouette print on offer. Page 3 contains 3 columns of text which briefly describe Captain Cook's travels, the work of the artist involved in producing the print and terms and conditions for ordering and purchase of the print. Page 1: 'To commemorate Captain James Cook's epochal voyages of discovery, on the 250th anniversary of his birth, the Royal Geographical Society presents' 24 karat, james cook, endeavour, royal geographical, commemorative, memorabilia, souvenir