Farshid Tighehsaz

From Labyrinth


Project Description

In 2013, upon developing a skill in social documentary photography, Farshid decided to begin a long-term independent related series which hopes to offer a clearer image of his society (Iran) and is still in progress. “From Labyrinth” is a multiplicity both in its structure and in its confrontation with the subjects and is about the fears and the effects of the Islamic revolution in Iran as well as the impact of eight years of war that will be felt for generations to come.

Iran had a huge population boom in the 1980s and 1990s, a new generation after revolution and war. It is a generation which played no part in earlier events, and yet what took place affects their lives directly. As the regime’s Islamic doctrine sealed off the country from western influence, the result was a complex mix of contradictions, which fuelled social and political instability.

“‘From Labyrinth’ is coexistence for me as a young Iranian, the generation after revolution, and comment on war with our society and the world”.

Farshid was born on July 21, 1987 in Tabriz, Iran. His birth year coincided with the last year of the Iran–Iraq War. Being young in Iran meant limitations: limitations in which religion affects politics, art, culture, diversion, economy, education, clothing, speech, behaviour, femininity, masculinity, relationships and life. The impact of these events on our lives and souls will always be visible. In this personal project, Farshid is searching for evidence of the growing complexity and depression both in sociological and psychological terms.

“Some commonalities among my peers were discovered: fear – fear of the future; fear of annihilation, fear of sexuality, fear of loneliness and the fear of not being happy”.

These fears take control of each individual’s life and identity, in ways both unique to every person and universal.


Biography

Farshid Tighehsaz is a freelance photographer based in Tabriz, Iran. Born in 1987, he took up photography to help understand life after his father, who was an amateur photographer, died in 2006.

Farshid studied psychology at university. In 2010, he started professionally working with news agencies in Iran. His work has been published internationally by news outlets such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Press.

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Posted by Thaddeus Pope

Thaddeus Pope is the Director of Visual Communications for The International Academic Forum (IAFOR) and the Creative Director of the IAFOR Documentary Photography Award.

One Comment

  1. […] Elliott Verdier (Third Place) from France, Camillo Pasquarelli (Honourable Mention) from Italy, and Farshid Tighehsaz (Honourable Mention) from Iran, who will also receive prizes from Think Tank Photo, MediaStorm and […]

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