Great works of wonderful lady photographers

5/17/07 By Syma Sayyah, Tehran

I am sure everyone who reads payvand knows about the hassles and hardships that many women activists in Iran have suffered, especially in the past few months. However, I would like to share with you the works of several women photographers, young, daring, motivated, modern, independent and courageous and also very successful, commercially and artistically, in what they do.

Art work by Hamila Vakili

These wonderful ladies among others are breaking new ground and bringing changes to society values and attitudes of women and about women in this country, slowly, quietly but surely. They deserve at least as much credit as those who choose other means to present the rights of Iranian women and they and their works, and others like them, will bring changes which will no doubt come; even if the changes do not come as urgently as some naively hope for, since society must be prepared for these changes, and most women themselves must in their hearts and souls demand changes and be prepared to work for them hard, continuously and above all be prepared to pay the price when the time comes.

Art work by Houra Yaghoubi

Last week we went to the Silk Road Gallery and enjoyed the works of three wonderful young lady photographers. They were Newsha Tavakolian, Houra Yaghoubi and Hamila Vakili. Their photographs were as interesting and as different as the ladies themselves, yet they had a few good things in common. The ladies were dedicated to their profession, hard working and finding new ways to present their art and the stories they wish to portray through it.

Art work by Newsha Tavakolian

Newsha Tavakolian is an award winning photojournalist and her series of portraits of the Mothers of Martyrs were deeply moving. This young lady, who has been to many countries, including Iraq during the war, is one of Iran's most daring and talented photojournalists and has the energy of a tiger, the courage of a lion and endless patience as well as a radiant smile.

Art work by Newsha Tavakolian

Houra Yaghoubi's works under the title of "Who is my generation" beautifully played with chadored figures and collages. Her photo collages bring the past to our attention and present consciousness, and make the viewer ask questions of how the past might have affected us today.

Houra Yaghoubi

Art work by Houra Yaghoubi

I found the work of Hamila Vakili most innovative and thought provoking, and above all daring. This young quiet lady of talent uses simple photomontage to illustrate her theme of oppression of women.

Hamila Vakili

Art work by Hamila Vakili

Good luck to all these ladies and many others who are working hard and moving the ship of Iranian women rights closer to their ultimate shore.

I have some samples of their photographs at Silk Road Gallery for you to share, and hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

... Payvand News - 5/17/07 ...