Iran, 2023

With this series, Newsha Tavakolian invites us to experience a sunny day in her native Iran. The morning light filters through the window of a minimally decorated bedroom adorned with yellow curtains and a neatly arranged bed, filling the room with warm light, serenity and solar optimism. On the bed, a poetic arrangement of native lemons provides indoor sunshine, and a delicate hint at the place in which these photographs were created. The day continues in the sun-drenched sand, where a solar glow bathes the curvaceous dunes. A woman gazes meditatively at the sun, above the horizon. Like a gentle reverie, the sequence invites us to feel the warmth of the sun on the sand. In another dream-like moment, a woman swims in a pool, surrounded by delicate sunflowers, as if in a purifying bath. These images provide a deep sense of relief, and hope. Through this visual fable based on the emotional power of the sun, Tavakolian explains that she wanted to tell a story of female power, hopefulness, and new beginnings. She was inspired by a book titled Conversation in a Garden by Iranian writer Shahrokh Meskoob, in which two intellectuals discuss Persian gardens, concluding that “the garden is inside you.” In this same enlightened spirit, Tavakolian’s soulful vision of the Sun as a soothing and nurturing presence makes us realize that its warmth and light are, indeed, inside each and every one of us.