DECEPTIVE DAYDREAMS
One glance at the photos that won Ebrahim Noroozi several World Press Photo Awards is enough to immediately understand the astounding versatility of this Iranian photographer. He is an established journalist and a staunch defender of the environment, but also a visual artist with an innovative approach.
One glance at the photos that won Ebrahim Noroozi several World Press Photo Awards is enough to immediately understand the astounding versatility of this Iranian photographer. He is an established journalist and a staunch defender of the environment, but also a visual artist with an innovative approach. He enjoys an impressive international reputation: his work journeys from his native Iran to India and Afghanistan, and graces the pages of the world’s most prestigious magazines such as Time, The New York Times and The Washington Post. In one series, he documents the terrifying story of a mother and daughter who were both subject to an acid attack by their husband and father. In another, he takes a no-holds-barred look at his home country, condemning the use of hanging as a death penalty.
However, this photographic chameleon also embraces a more enigmatic stance, venturing into abstraction with artistic work that features nature, the elements and a masterful use of colour. Two series by Ebrahim Noroozi are on show at La Gacilly, demonstrating a photographic style that could be described as a reverie on the ravages of global warming. The first takes us to Lake Urmia, one of the largest salt lakes in the world, which is in danger of disappearing in the near future. In the meantime, as summer arrives, its waters take on a purple hue due to blooming algae and bacteria. The second series looks at the relationship between people and water resources in his country: one third of Iran is covered by desert and droughts are becoming increasingly frequent, leading to major water shortages.
JARDIN DES MARAIS
Exhibition produced in collaboration with the Silk Road Gallery, Tehran.