Tehran is a photographic series developed between 2013 and 2019. It is an attempt to construct a mental image of the city where I was born and raised – an image that may have little in common with the actual Tehran.

For many who have lived there – or in comparable political systems – the city is closely tied to feelings of fear and constant pressure. The sense of being watched, or the impression of always doing something “wrong” regardless of one’s actions, is part of daily life. These experiences are not unique to Tehran but are present in many cities marked by systematic oppression.

At the same time, the series, simply titled Tehran, seeks to capture fleeting moments of freedom: private, intimate spaces within small communities where a sense of normality could occasionally emerge. These fragile moments of liberation form the core of the work.

A selection of the series was presented in 2017 as part of a group exhibition curated by Farshid Azarang in Tehran.