Country: Turkey
City: Istanbul

Curriculum Vitae

Abstract of the accomplished photographic work

The social structure of Iran has long been defined by the repression of women. However, significant cracks have begun to form in this framework, especially following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, which sparked the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement. This movement has inspired many women to boldly challenge compulsory veiling, thus transforming the societal landscape. This project documents two influential groups of women: the first comprises pioneering figures who exemplify the mantra “I can, if he can,” proving that many traditional barriers can be overcome. These role models have served as a foundation, instilling courage in younger generations of women. The second group includes Generation Z girls who break societal taboos in both family and public spheres. Together, these women are reshaping the architectural identity of their society, striving to liberate themselves from outdated traditions and create a more vibrant, modern community that embraces freedom and equality.

Captions

Elnaz participated at the 2021 IFSC Climbing World Championships in Moscow, and was awarded the bronze medal in the women’s combined event. She had previously won a silver and two bronze medals at the IFSC Climbing Asian Championships. But Elnaz gained international attention in 2022 for competing without a headscarf at the IFSC Asia Championships in Seoul. When Elnaz returned to Tehran, this time without a medal, hundreds of people greeted her. They cheered “Elnaz the Champion.”
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Aida stands in a place which is called Bam-e Tehran (meaning Roof of Tehran) with a beautiful view of the city. Since the Mahsa's tragedy, many girls only bring the scarves and put them on their shoulders. It is for the time some unofficial people alert them or even at the entrance of some public places such as some hyper markets or cinemas at which some guards politely tell the women they are not allowed to enter, unless they have their scarves on their heads. So, many girls have them to enter the place and after that they put it off again.
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She is Mahsa, a 34-year-old engineer. "I hadn't worn headscarf in some semi-private places in recent years; however, since I saw the courage of other women after the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, I also put off my scarf in the city. It's more than 6 months that I haven't worn hijab which makes me satisfied and self-confidant as I see it a civil resistance to get back some of the lost rights for women in Iran. My husband has been the best supporter to me for not wearing hijab on streets.", she said.
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Elmira and Elahe are sisters. Elmira is a painter and Elahe is a voice actress. Young artists often face serious financial challenges in Iran. So they decided to leave the country and now they are studying in Canada.
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It is Pardisan park in the north-western region of Tehran. Two girls are exercising in a shiny day of the summer. "No men stare at us with this way of wearing; it feels really good to us that the society get used to women not wearing hijab", they said when asking about their feelings. Since the death of Mahsa Amini, although there are some places in which unofficial agents try to impose compulsory hijab to the women, one may see many girls in the city without wearing scarves.
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Behin Bolouri, 28, and Samin Bolouri, 21, started their official work as musicians and singers eight years ago. Although singing solo is forbidden in Iran due to some Islamic rules, they sing on their social media which attracts hundreds of thousands of followers. Since the protests in Iran, their work found an international face by the Iranian version of the song “Bella ciao”, an originally Italian famous music. Freedom-seeking thoughts have been found in their songs and also a ray of hope, “as we believe in it and one should follow in our songs. We never stop dreaming and these are the dreams that come to our songs.”, they say.
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Sogol Kheirandish,30, performs flow art at a park in the north of Tehran. she is a coach and a dancer. “Flow Arts” are both a sport and leisure activity that includes dance, juggling, fire-spinning, and other movement-based disciplines. In recent years, it has attracted young people in big cities like Tehran who dress in Western clothing, rock fashionable hairstyles, and wear tattoos. But dancing in public spaces is banned for women in Iran. “The strongest obstacle for a girl in a closed society is shallow-minded people,” Sogol says. “That makes most of us depressed, unless you return to what your heart tells you.”
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Sahar Rashidi, a 31-year-old kickboxer, poses wearing her boxing gloves in Kermanshah, western Iran. Born into a nomad family, Sahar started secretly fighting as a Kungfu fighter in a sport club in the city. In time, she became fond of kickboxing. Sahar had dozens of championships in kickboxing and became a role model for other nomad girls.
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Zeinab plays football in the region next to the Karoun river, it is the most famous place in Ahvaz city. She is an eager football fan and used to disguised herself as a boy to enter the stadium because it was forbidden for women to watch a football match there. She risked herself being arrested by that; finally, Zeinab had to left Iran in 2019.
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Friends are at their place in Dashte Noor a private village in the north. It is a private luxury village which host rich families, mostly come from Tehran. There are many regions with private villas in Iran because of two main reasons; first, the attractiveness of the housing market in an inflationary economy. Second, these are some places that people can have their preferred life-styles and freedom without the intervention of the officials; they can have fun the way they like to.
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Some locals are playing volleyball at the beach. Darya-Kenar is a coastal village which hosts upper class Iranians.
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A family makes shade using a picnic blanket in the southern village of Iran near Dez Dam Lake.
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A typical family is swimming in the Caspian Sea. Although there are a few special region for women to swim freely, they have to wear hijab in public regions of the sea. It might be weird to the outsiders to see the men with shorts next to women with hijab next to the beaches of the Caspian Sea.
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Hamideh, 45, wears burqa for better Hijab. However her little girl, Maryam, doesn't like to wear burqa. She lives in Qeshm Island, a small beautiful place which host many visitors specially in the autumn and winter because of its mild weather at those time.
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A group of girls are sitting on the guardrail of the streets in a park. These days some women remove their scarves in public as a sign of civil resistance against the compulsory hijab.
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She is Niloo, 40-year-old employee in the private sector. Niloo goes to Chitgar Park, western region of Tehran. "I don't remember exactly the day I started not to wear headscarf; I think it was one or two weeks after Mahsa's tragedy. I had to wear hijab for years, something that I didn't like to. So, after many years, that was a turning point for me to do what my heart desires to. I was afraid at first like other women, however, after more than 8 months, I think wearing hijab is strange for me.", she said.
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A group of women are at the yard in a private luxury village in the north of Iran, while they are about to go out of the village. In northern small cities and villages of Iran alongside the Caspian Sea, where there are less officials around and much more private places such as villas, visitors have more freedom in the way of their living and wearing.
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Two friends rest at the beach of Caspian Sea. Many people go to the north of Iran for vacation on summer. In northern small cities and villages of Iran alongside the Caspian Sea, where there are less officials around and much more private places such as villas, visitors have more freedom in the way of their living and wearing.
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A girl is sitting on the rocks in Pamenar village, next to Dez lam lake. during Nowruz holidays.
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Description of the project you intend to pursue through the Prize

The freedom of women is the most crucial measure of a society’s overall liberation. Recent developments in Iran highlight a significant shift toward individual empowerment, propelled by the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement. This initiative has led to notable achievements in personal expression, especially regarding women’s attire. Years of repression have created a somber image of Iranian society, but a new generation is emerging to redefine this narrative. This project focuses on photographing ten architecturally and culturally significant locations in Tehran, showcasing women who have courageously rejected restrictions. These women will symbolize the city’s evolving identity. The book will feature a cover that embodies themes of transformation and femininity, accompanied by narratives detailing the significance of each location. This exploration captures the essence of a society in the midst of profound change, celebrating the role of women in shaping a modern urban landscape.