Voices from Iran
(2009–2012)
“Translating is my passion. When I translate a text I feel I have created something new.I like to use my education and skills to help people, to be a master-key for all of the locked doors”
“My aim is be a film director, a film director for people not for money, not for the government and also not for myself.” “I believe this world needs artists even more than water and oxygen. Hearts need to be connected whether they are in the same city or different continent. Nothing can do it better than art.”
“I should say, there is only one thing that makes me satisfied and gives me a sense of freedom. Freedom for things that I love — with out any limitation”
“To me as an Iranian I sense sympathy, kindness, dignity and ambition are some of the strongest characteristics in this culture. It might be seen we are not as good in team work as we might be as individuals but when we alone decide to do something- it's done!”
A collection of images from various trips to Iran, shaped by solo travel and work, focusing on the people, culture, and relationships I encountered. Raised in Britain with no extended family and only fragments of stories—some beautiful, others conflicting—from my traumatised, isolated parents and the media, I felt a strong need to discover Iran for myself.
In 2012, I began learning Farsi while working briefly at Hotel Manoucheri, a craft-led hotel in Kashan. Drawn by the city’s stately architecture and serene house museums, I lived and worked there as a waitress. Despite my limited language skills, I was treated with great warmth—both as a guest and friend. I photographed people I met in Kashan, as well as in the desert city of Yazd and its surrounding villages.
Curious about contemporary life in Iran, I invited the people I photographed to share their thoughts on their country—many of which I recorded in both Farsi and English. These voices offer a counterpoint to media narratives, allowing space for personal reflections that may challenge assumptions or spark new understandings.
As someone of Iranian heritage raised outside the culture, these exchanges deepened my connection to the people and place. Iran is shaped by a rich, ancient history, with traditions that continue to influence modern life in subtle, complex ways. I'm especially interested in how ritual and tradition evolve—sometimes hidden, sometimes transformed—within contemporary culture.
Despite restrictions, passion creative spirit flourishing in private spaces: homes, studios, and nature. In rural areas and deserts, I encountered a sense of freedom— more isolated places where people gather to express themselves more openly than they might in the cities. These spaces hold a peaceful sense of resilience, offering to me glimpses of how identity, community, and creativity survive and adapt.