Breathing Space: Iranian Women Photographers

by Anahita Ghabaian Etehadieh

A magnificently illustrated book showcasing the work of twenty-three contemporary women photographers from Iran. Breathing Space showcases the work of twenty-three women photographers from Iran and their diverse approaches to their craft. Exploring a range of photographic styles and genres, they record the past and present upheavals of their homeland as well as tackling subjects such as the nature of memory, the tension between tradition and modernity, and the scars of conflict and loss. Whether documentary or conceptual, these images have global resonance and speak of the power of women to shape the world. Featuring the work 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 140 color and 20 black-and-white illustrations

Genres: Photography, Art, Iran, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

Published January 9, 2024

Reviews

[Ghazaal B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

بعد از چهار پنج ماه به دستم رسید.
به معنی کلمه کیف کردم با نگاه کردن به دونه دونه صفحاتش. به شجاعت و خلاقیتی که در این سرزمین نهان است.
غصه خوردم و واقعا به امید روزی که این کتاب بدون هیچ محدودیتی در ایران چاپ بشه. ✨

[Zachary Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For me, a woman's voice represents a power. If you silence it, it imbalances society and makes everything deform..." - Newsha Tavakolian

As someone that regrettably could not name a single Iranian woman artist, I am immensely grateful for this publications existence. Given Iran's history of repression, it is also immensely impressive that a collection like this even exists at all and is a testament to how art can find a way to live even in the most desolate of environments.

Some of my favorites from this collection were Newsha Tavakolian's Imaginary CD Covers, Atoosa Alebouyeh's Hidden, Maryam Takhtkeshian's No Soldier Has Returned From War, Mina Boromand's Aphantasia, Gohar Dashti's Iran, Untitled, and Maryam Firuzi's Reading For Tehran Streets.

As the editor and curator Anahita Ghabaian mentions in the books introduction, Iranian photography is a nascent artform and if this great collection is any sign of what is to come, we are all in for a treat.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-three contemporary women photographers from Iran look at their country and document the struggle that all women in Iran are facing on a daily basis. This is one of the most powerful books of photography I have ever read; seeing the horror on the faces of Iranian woman being arrested for not wearing a hijab will stay with me. A powerful look at what a new generation of women in Iran ‘see’.

[Cellophane Renaissance · Rating 5 out of 5]

so beautiful

[Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, provocative photos with supporting text. I highly recommend this book (and have already recommended it to multiple friends) and hope to see more collections like this.

[jay ^_^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Helya · Rating 5 out of 5]

idk usually i’d be more critical of books even if they’re just coffee table books like this but i’m too satisfied with having persian woman representation to rate this lower than 5 stars

[LaLa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So breathtaking. I would read an entire art book about every single artist featured here.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers 3 generations of the work of Iran’s female photographers. These artists document their times, primarily:
• 1979 demonstrations and the result of the revolution that, in the end, required the oppressive female dress code (which was not what the demonstrations were about).
• 1980-1988 The Iran-Iraq War
• Contemporary – intimacy, the body, restrictions, the environment

The work of each of the 23 photographers is introduced by a short paragraph on the left hand page with samples of work on left and right and additional pages as appropriate. This format gives the reader context and enough space to allow the work to stand alone.

I have no list of favorites for this book, because they are all favorite and important, be they scenes from street protest, private emotion, abstract commentary, war, polluted landscapes, and/or nostalgia. There are images of couples, wedding dresses, arrests for showing hair/dress code violations, and women singing (which is illegal in Iran). Almost no one smiles. The photos convey the drab and dangerous life the government of Iran has given its people.

Techniques include collage, photo-montage and photo editing software.

The last page of brief bios states birth and work places of the artists.

The book designer and editor are to be saluted along with the artists. The photos, text, type and paper are well selected. Order of the content and the groupings are all excellent.

Highly recommended.