The vitality of a growing photographic scene, in a country once again shaken by violent political and social turmoil, reveals a need for artists to express their concerns regarding necessary changes. The weight of tradition, the upheavals brought by the Islamist Republic and what is left of them, social protests and new technologies, but also Iran’s vast cultural inheritance, attachment to one’s country and sudden leaps towards the future are some of the many themes that emanate from contemporary creations.
The versatile quality of photography, which produces images ranging from documentary to poetic, captured either discreetly, on the street, or on the contrary through complex and detailed staging in a studio, shared over the Internet – Instagram in particular – more than any other art form, explains in part the wealth and variety of productions in the field. Throughout the last decades, the status of photographer has been sometimes belittled, sometimes tolerated, sometimes celebrated, fluctuations that have never stopped numerous artists to hold it as their own and fight censorship, be it frontally or with cunning and humour.
Despite this emergence, the current state of Iran and the life condition of its inhabitants remain unknown to the French public. This is why Apollonia and its partners offer to hold this common exposition in Strasbourg, highlighting the aspects of this form of art so closely tied to life. The different themes will be tackled here in an effort to maintain the balance between sensitivity and documentary approach, between dreams of ideals and understanding of the present, while creating an approach to Iran loose from commonplaces and prejudice.
Artists involved in the exhibit :
Mohamad ABBASI, Kiarang ALAEI, Mahsa ALIKHANI, Hamidreza AMIRI MATIN, Ali ASADOLAHI SOUTEH, Amirbahador BAYAT, Najlaa DADBAR, Maryam DASHTI, Nastaran FARJADPEZESHK, Zamani FERESHTE, Negin FIROOZI, Shadi GHADIRIAN, Morteza KHATIBZADEH, Sahar KHAZAEI-TONDRO, Alireza MEMARIANI, Saba SAFAEI, Abbas VAHEDI, Kaveh ZOHDI