Mohabbat Khatibnia-Mansouri is an interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Hillsboro, OR. After receiving a BFA in Art Practice from Portland State University, Mohabbat is pursuing her MFA as a Sculpture Candidate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

Khastegari (support system), 2023

Khastegari is an old Persian tradition that dates back many decades. It is the first official step in a family-arranged courtship process. Traditionally, a suitor's parents will call and arrange a meeting with the girl’s parents. At times, the young duo may be strangers; their parents may know each other; or the two may have met on their own initiative. Regardless of the circumstance, this process is what the Persians refer to as Khastegari.

This first meeting generally takes place in the afternoon, over tea and sweets at the girl’s home. This small and intimate gathering is attended by the parents and siblings of the interested parties, and at times, the grandparents.

Traditionally, the girl who is the object of the Khastegari serves tea and offers sweets during the gathering. These young women are expected to have perfected this performance, to solidify their legitimacy for marriage in the eyes of the suitor's parents. The tea set being used is important, as well as the color of the tea, its volume in the vessel, and how she carries it and moves through the space to present it to her suitor and his family.