Breathing Space: Iranian Women Photographers

Review by Gerhard Clausing •

In this increasingly divided world of ours the pressure to conform can at times be overwhelming. We have all been subject to attempts by others to define our behavior, attempts to delineate strict definitions for us to follow that match the preferences of members of another group. Women in some societies are especially the target of this disturbing phenomenon.

It is refreshing to see this photobook of visually expressed opinions by 23 women photographers from the country of Iran. As the editor, Anahita Ghabaian Etehadieh, says in the preface, “Iranian women are fighting for their rights with courage and determination. No less remarkable is the support of Iranian men, who believe that they cannot be truly free unless women are also free. The people of Iran now know that gender equality is the only basis for real progress.” She provides a valuable look at the work of all of these women photographers, the work going back to the revolution of 1979. Important cultural perspectives are provided to help us understand the struggle and the art shown here as well.

The images cover a range from purely documentary to conceptual/artistic, including collages and superimpositions. We see pictures of women subject to arrest for not wearing a hijab, as well as depictions of hijabs with symbols of strict definitions around objects associated with work around the house. We quickly get the idea that women also want to be appreciated for their other contributions, and that they too have opinions and preferences that are different from those of the people who want to define their roles. We get the idea that mixing religion and politics is never a good idea, as this commingling prevents differentiation and diversity.

There is no question about the family orientation of the society, which is the responsibility of both men and women. The attempt to be a part of the modern world, while also honoring traditional beliefs and practices, is not an easy task. Some of the images make us feel a certain sadness and isolation. Issues around the human body, previously a taboo subject, are finding their way into the perception and interpretation by these artists as well.

This photobook has a large format, and its layout and design are generous and easy to peruse. It is my hope that this is the beginning of an artistic and personal journey that will have even greater rewards in the future. For the moment it is worthy of our close analysis and interpretation for the many subtleties as well as for its unusual directness as a forecast of further positive developments.

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Gerhard (Gerry) Clausing, Editor of the PhotoBook Journal, is an author and photographer from Southern California and from the Franconian countryside.

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Breathing Space: Iranian Women Photographers

Photographers: Nazli Abbaspour, Hoda Afshar, Atoosa Alebouyeh, Hoda Amin, Mina Boromand, Solmaz Daryani, Gohar Dashti, Maryam Firuzi, Shadi Ghadirian, Hengameh Golestan, Ghazaleh Hedayat, Rana Javadi, Mahboube Karamli, Gelareh Kiazand, Yalda Moaiery, Sahar Mokhtari, Tahmineh Monzavi, Pargol E. Naloo, Malekeh Nayiny, Mahshid Noshirvani, Ghazaleh Rezaei, Maryam Takhtkeshian, Newsha Tavakolian

Editor: Anahita Ghabaian Etehadieh

Texts: Anahita Ghabaian Etehadieh

Language: English (translated from French)

Hardcover, illustrated, sewn; 160 pages, paginated; 9.25 x 12.5 inches (24 x 32 cm); printed in Italy; ISBN 978-0-500-02715-6

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Articles and photographs published in the PhotoBook Journal may not be reproduced without the permission of the PhotoBook Journal staff and the photographer(s). All images, texts, and designs are under copyright by the authors and publishers.