Projects

THIS PROJECT WAS INSPIRED BY THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON WOMEN MUSICIANS IN IRAN SINCE THE 1979 REVOLUTION, WHERE WOMEN ARE OFTEN BANNED FROM PERFORMING SOLO FOR MIXED AUDIENCES. THROUGH MY WORK, I REFLECT ON THE SILENCING OF WOMEN’S VOICES WHILE CELEBRATING THEIR BEAUTY, STRENGTH, AND CREATIVE PRESENCE—REMINDING US THAT WOMEN, LIKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, CARRY WITHIN THEM A UNIQUE MUSIC WAITING TO BE HEARD.

LINGERING SHADOWS EXPLORES THE QUIET WEIGHT OF WOMEN’S INVISIBLE LABOR AND EMOTIONAL FATIGUE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. USING SELF-PORTRAITURE, STAGED DOMESTIC SCENES, AND A RESTRAINED BLUE PALETTE, I CONSTRUCT SURREAL FRAGMENTS OF ROUTINE — POURING TEA, DRESSING, PAUSING, REFLECTING — THAT SPEAK OF REPETITION, FUTILITY, AND INNER SOLITUDE. THE COLOR BLUE BECOMES BOTH A REFUGE AND A CONFINEMENT, SYMBOLIZING CALMNESS AND QUIET DESPAIR. THIS WORK REIMAGINES SELF-PORTRAITURE AS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE VISIBLE AND THE HIDDEN SELF — BETWEEN PERSONAL EXHAUSTION AND THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN WHOSE DAILY RESILIENCE OFTEN REMAINS UNSEEN.

“WANDERING SUITCASE” IS A VISUAL NARRATIVE THAT ENCAPSULATES THE EMOTIONAL COMPLEXITIES OF THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE. THE SUITCASE SERVES AS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF THE DIFFICULT MOMENTS FILLED WITH NOSTALGIA AND SADNESS THAT ACCOMPANY EACH JOURNEY. IT EMBODIES THE WEIGHT OF LEAVING BEHIND LOVED ONES AND THE FAMILIAR LAND, EVOKING FEELINGS OF WANDERING, HOPE, FEAR, AND DEEP LONGING.

THIS COLLECTION EXPLORES THE UNIVERSAL HUMAN EXPERIENCES OF DISPLACEMENT, LONGING, AND THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY, TRANSCENDING BORDERS AND INVITING VIEWERS TO REFLECT ON THE SHARED DESIRE FOR CONNECTION AND BELONGING.

IN THIS PROJECT, I AIM TO HIGHLIGHT THE DUALITY OF LIFE IN IRAN AND THE CONSEQUENCES IT BRINGS UPON INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IN IRAN LEADS TWO LIVES — AN EXTERNAL LIFE THAT CONFORMS TO THE NORMS OF SOCIETY AND AN INTERNAL LIFE GOVERNED BY THEIR OWN WANTS AND NEEDS. THIS DUALITY HAS RESULTED IN HALF OF THEIR TRUE IDENTITY BEING HIDDEN, LEADING TO A WIDESPREAD SENSE OF HYPOCRISY AND MISTRUST. I HOPE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS ISSUE AND STRIVE TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN FREELY PROJECT THEIR TRUE SELVES WITHOUT FEAR OF JUDGMENT OR OPPRESSION.

THE NOSTALGIA COLLECTION IS A SENSORY JOURNEY THROUGH THE NARRATIVE OF WOMEN'S MOODS. IT IS A COMPILATION OF EMOTIONS, EXPERIENCES, AND MEMORIES, ALL WRAPPED UP IN A BUNDLE OF SENSUALITY. THE COLLECTION SEEKS TO SHOWCASE THE MULTIFACETED EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN'S LIVES, PORTRAYING THEIR LONGINGS, LOVES, AND EVERYDAY REALITIES.

THE COLLECTION TAKES INSPIRATION FROM THE SUBTLE AND COMPLEX FEELING OF NOSTALGIA THAT PERVADES WOMEN'S LIVES. THIS FEELING IS NOT JUST A FLEETING EMOTION BUT A DEEP-ROOTED CONNECTION WITH THE PAST THAT CAN BE TRIGGERED BY ANYTHING FROM AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH TO A PIECE OF MUSIC. THE COLLECTION AIMS TO CAPTURE THIS NOSTALGIA IN A WAY THAT IS BOTH PERSONAL AND UNIVERSAL.

THIS SERIES EXPLORES THE EMOTIONAL AFTERSHOCK OF WITNESSING FROM AFAR AND THE FRAGILE BOND BETWEEN THE EXILED SELF AND THE HOMELAND THAT CONTINUES TO LIVE AND ACHE WITHIN IT. THROUGH EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN PHOTOGRAPHS, I GIVE VISUAL FORM TO THIS SHARED CONDITION OF GRIEF IN DISTANCE.