We understand the symbolic as metaphor. Nineteenth century symbolists didn’t do so. Odilon Redon’s paintings didn’t narrate a specific story. They created a symbolic space, inspired of something. That thing couldn’t be put into words.
Metaphoric mind has problems with Kafka. It searches for a particular meaning in Albert Camus’ The Plague. But The Plague is not about a particular social plague, it tries to penetrate through the essence of plague as such.
The clever choice of Shahpour Pouyan immunizes him from metaphor. The direct reference of these works are plural enough to provide them with some depth. As much as to make it possible to contemplate them, more than mere observation. Contemplate what you don’t understand but can feel deep inside.