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Mehdi Vosoughnia (b. 1971, Qazvin IRAN) is a Tehran-based documentary photographer and lecturer.
Since beginning his career in 1988, his work has engaged with social change in Iran, focusing
in recent years on the visual narratives of contemporary Iranian landscapes, particularly
urban cityscapes and architecture. He also teaches as a guest lecturer
at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, and at Manzar Studio.

Education

  • B.A.in photography, Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
  • Graphic design from graphic college,  Rasht, Iran.

Publications

Books Authored

  • 2020 . One Hundred Years of Urban Landscape Photography in Tehran,
    published by ElmiFarhangi Publishing, Tehran, Iran.
  • 2016 . Pamenar, bon gah, Published in Tehran, Iran
  • 2015 . Anzali, Nazar, Published in Tehran, Iran
  • 2015 . Selected by Kahrizak, a window into life, a photography book, published by Haft Rang, Tehran, Iran

Books Featuring

  • 2025 . Contemporary Photography in Iran, edited by Aram Mohamadi, published by Springer, Berlin, Germany.
  • 2024 . Rethinking the Contemporary Art of Iran, edited by Hamid Keshmirshekan, published by Skira, Milan, Italy.
  • 2024 . A dossier for Mehdi Vosoughnia, Cadr book on Art and Photography by Egnom Publishing, Isfahan, Iran.
  • 2017 . Iran, année 38, Textuel and co-published by Arte, Published in Paris, France
  • 2015 . Evident & Latent; Gerayesh-e Tazeh, Published in Tehran, Iran
  • 2008 . Iranian photography now, Edited by: Rose Issa, published by HatjeCantz, Stuttgart, Germany
  • 2002 . Tajjasom, Taha,Published in Qzvin, Iran

Activities

  • 2024 . Judge for the 8th Annual Photo Exhibition of the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
  • 2023 . Lecture titled: Revisiting the Works of Bahman Jalali, Iranian Press Photographers Association, House of Artists, Tehran, Iran.
  • 2022. Artist Talk, Relevancy Series, Curators: Alireza Taghabi, Amir Najafi, Saeed Ahmadian, Contemporary Architects Association, Workshop No. 7 & 8, Tehran, Iran.
  • 2020 . Scientific Secretary the Fifth Annual Photo Exhibition of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
  • 2019 . Curated by Exhibition: Before the Eyes, A survey of man-altered landscapes in Iran, Silk Road Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2018 . Curated by Exhibition: Field View, Imam Hussein Square, 2015, hepta Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2018 . Curated by Exhibition: Nafar Abad, Tem Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2016 . Curated by Exhibition: Valaiasr street, Silk Road Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2015 . Curated by Exhibition, Kahrizak; a window into life, group exhibition, Silk Road Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2009 . Conference speaker in SOAS university: A glance at photography in Iran after revolution and introducing Qazvin Photographers Group, London, Uk
  • 2008-2014 . Teaching photography in the arman college of Iran, Tehran, Unit
  • 2002-2007 . Graphic Designer of Aks Magazine
  • 2002-2005 . Graphic Designer of Camera Magazine
  • 2002-2012 . Manager of Iran qpg web site
  • 1998 up to now. Writing notes and criticism about photography exhibitions
  • 1998-2009 . Teaching photography in the Young Cinema Association of Iran, Qazvin Unit,
  • 1997 up to now. Judging 35 photography festivals and exhibitions

Honors:

  • 2001 First winner of the third Ashoura photo competition, Tehran, Iran
  • 1997 First winner of the sixth festival of the Young Cinema, Sanandaj, Iran
  • 1996 First winner of the free style photography in the fifth festival of the Young Cinema, Ahvaz, Iran
  • 1995 Third winner of the fourth festival of the Young Cinema, Kermanshah, Iran
  • 1993 Special prize of the judge council in the festival of the Young Cinema Association, Hamedan, Iran
  • 1990 Second winner of the fifth festival of young cinema association, Qazvin, Iran

Solo Exhibition :

  • 2016. Pamenar, Silk Road Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2015. Anzali, Silk Road Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2010. Père Lachaise, Mehrva Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2009. Perusal of Works, Esfahan Art Museum, Esfahan, Iran
  • 2008. Eternal Rooms, Mehr Gallery, Qazvin, Iran
  • 2007. Ye Photograph, remain eternal as a memorial of me!, Mehr Gallery, Qazvin, Iran
  • 2006. Ye Photograph, remain eternal as a memorial of me!, City Photography Museum, Tehran, Iran
  • 2000. Untitled, Iran Photographers’ Hose, Tehran, Iran
  • 1999. Untitled, Iran Photographers’ Hose, Tehran, Iran
  • 1996. Negahe – Khakestari, Aref art Gallery, Qazvin, Iran
  • 1996. From This Between, Aref art Gallery, Qazvin, Iran
  • 1995. Neday-e-Aghaz, Aref art Gallery, Qazvin, Iran

Group exhibition :

  • 2024 . zastar, sales gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2021 . Travel your mind in Iran, Hinterland gallery, Vienna, Austria
  • 2020 . Quarantine, and Online Exhibition; Silk Road Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2020 .  Urban Mapping: Public Space Through the Lens of
    Contemporary Iranian Artists    , Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona, America
  • 2019 . Paris photo, Silk Road Art Gallery, Paris, France
  • 2019 . Iran: Visual Poetries – An exhibition circuit in four stages, Photo Gaspésie, Gaspésie, Canada
  • 2019 .  A Few Days in Between, A Tribute to Abbas Kiarostami, Arta Gallery
    Distillery District, Toronto, Canada
  • 2019 .  A Few Days in Between, A Tribute to Abbas Kiarostami, Nabshi Center, Tehran, Iran
  • 2018 .  Tehran, Cinema Galléries, Brussels, Belxiye
  • 2018 .  Paris photo, Silk Road Art Gallery, Paris, France
  • 2017 .  Expressing, Knack Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2017 .  Iran: Year 38, Les Rencontres d’Arles Festival, Église Sainte-Anne, Arles, France
  • 2017 .  Process, A-gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2017 .  Urban Mapping, Hillyer art space, Washington, America
  • 2017 . It Is Us, Not Them, An Outlook on the Connections and Disconnections in Iranian
    Documentary Photography, Ariana Gallery, Iran
  • 2017 . Portfolio of Photography, Mohsen gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2017 . Ebb, Group Multimedia Exhibition, Silk Road Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2016 . Téhéran une ville, une mégapole, Strasbourg, France
  • 2016 . Landscape, Hepta Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2016 . Seven Passes, Theme gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2013 . Wavy Banners Project, Jutland, Denmark
  • 2013 . By Iranian Contemporary Photographers, Mellat Gallery Cineplex, Tehran, Iran
  • 2013 . Joy Land, Mehrva Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2012 . Photo Expo, Saba Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran
  • 2012 . 2nd Six Weeks of Iranian Art, Queen Gallery, Toronto, Canada
  • 2011 . Presence, Aria gallery, Tehran, Iran.
  • 2010 . Nights of Tehran, Mehrva Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2010 . Tehran Documented, Aaran Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2009 . Voice of Vision, Spéos Gallery, Paris, France
  • 2009 . Grand Hotel, Mehr Art Gallery, Qazvin, Iran
  • 2009 . Grand Hotel, Aria Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2008 . Presence in second Art Expo, Tehran, Iran
  • 2008 . Annual Image Celebration, Tehran, Iran
  • 2007 . Human Like This, Zangar Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2006 . 10th Iran Photo Biennial, Saba Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran
  • 2005 . Sufi’s Dance, Aref Art Gallery, Qazvin, Iran
  • 2004 . Barg Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2003 . Aria Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 2003 . Barg Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
  • 1996 . 7th Iran Photo exhibition (International – Biennial), Tehran, Iran
  • 1994 . Iran photographers, Iran Photographers’ House, Tehran, Iran
    • 2024. A Brief Look at Contemporary Documentary Photography, 2nd Annual Photo
      Exhibition of the University of Nishapur, Iran.
    • 2024. A Brief Look at Contemporary Documentary Photography,
      Hormozgan Photographers Society, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
    • 2023 . A study about street photographers from very early till current time.
      Tehran Street Photography organizes>, Tehran.
    • 2023 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography
      Isatis Film and Photo Festival>, Yazd.
    • 2020 . Documentary Photography, iris photography society, Shiraz.
    • 2020 . An Analytical Look at the Works of Magnum Photographers in the 21st Century,
      Sixty-third regional festival of youth cinema of sarvenaz, shiraz.
    • 2019 . Cityscape photography, qom Hoze Honari, qom.
    • 2018 . The documentary series, A gallery, Tehran.
    • 2018 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography
      Isfahan Photographers Society, Isfahan.
    • 2018 . City in contemporary Iranian photographer projects, Tehran University of Arts, Tehran.
    • 2017 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography,
      6 th 10 days with Iranian photographers, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran.
    • 2017 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography, Tem gallery, Tehran.
    • 2017 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography,
      6 th 10 days with Iranian photographers, Isfahan University of Art, Isfahan.
    • 2017 . Street Photography now, 2th Qazvin national photography festival, Qazvin.
    • 2017 . Street Photography now, Anar Azad University, Anar.
    • 2017 . Street Photography, past and present, Tabriz.
    • 2017 . The documentary series, Fifty-seventh regional festival of youth cinema of shabdiz,  Kermanshah.
    • 2017 . Street Photography, past and present, Shiraz Culture and Art University, Shiraz.
    • 2017 . An review of documentary photo, Arak Hoze Honari,  Arak.
    • 2017 . Street Photography, past and present,  Ahvaz.
    • 2016 . Street Photography, past and present,  Mashhad.
    • 2016 . City in contemporary Iranian photographer projects, The Iranian Youth Cinema Society, Qazvin.
    • 2016 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography, Arak Hoze Honari, Arak.
    • 2015 . Looking at Contemporary Documentary Photography, Kerman 2nd Photo Annual world Photography day, Kerman.
    • 2014 . City in contemporary Iranian photographer projects,4thBirjand national photography festival, Birjand.
    • 2013 . Urban documentary photography, Isfahan Photographers Society, Isfahan.
    • 2012 . City in contemporary Iranian photographer projects, New Urban Photography master class, Yazd.
    • 2012 . Street Photography, 49thFestival of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society, Shahrekord.
    • 2010 . An overview of contemporary Iranian documentary photographer, Bandar Abbas.
    • 2010 . Social documentary photography, The Iranian Youth Cinema Society, Bandar Abbas.
    • 2007 . Social documentary photography, The Iranian Youth Cinema Society, Bandar Abbas.
    • 2007 . Social documentary Photography, Arak Hoze Honari, Arak.
    • 2007 . Social documentary photography, 8th Festival of The Iranian Youth Cinema Society, Bam.

At home
Tehran 2020-2021

These photos are a view into the confined and personal environment of home which has been and still is part of my enthusiasm for seeing, as well as for photographing. This time, however, after the outbreak of covid-19, the compulsory home stay and the consequent depression, photographing from this environment has transformed into visual exploration of the environment to find a small and sometimes blind peephole to the outside world.

Pamenar
Tehran 2013-2014

This is Pamenar, a historical neighborhood as old as the city of Tehran, dating back to the Safavid (18th century).Walking the neighborhood, in an area that at some point was considered the heart of old Tehran, I beheld forms and colors — manifesting themselves on doors, walls, and passageways — to reached empty spaces that, more than anything else, connected me to a “past and present”. The radical transformations that have made Pamenar what it is today are part of a history that meets the eye at an angle in its strange incongruity.

***

The Pamenar Collection is part of an ongoing series on various cityscapes of Iran. These photographs were taken over a two-year period (2013-2014) on holidays.

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Anzali
2012-2014

That place is Anzali; a port city in the margins of the Caspian Sea. Somehow when I saw this city, I discovered myself in it; though I was not even born there. As I wandered around constantly in different days and seasons, I found it a lonely city. I saw the city in rainy days, looked at the people closely and even watched it keenly in its reckless silence. Once I focused accurately on this geographic site, and as I encountered certain issues and faced the existing elements in the city, I came across a rather unconventional conversation; I encountered decay and dampness in addition to grayish and gloomy people. I then realized that the body of this city, including the architecture, buildings, benches, alleys, streets, shops, docks and the beaches speak for what is called Anzali way beyond the words spoken by the people.
For me the metal bridge, the Qazian bridge, the Lagoon, the Boulevard, the GhalamGoodeh Island, the Mianposhteh Island are graphic haikus in the seasons when there is no tourist around.

***

The “Anzali” collection is a sequel to the photos I have taken from the cities, places and other landscapes of my country, Iran, which has had my eyes fixed on it during the recent years. The collection of the photos presented in this book was photographed within two years (2012-2014) through my trips, while each trip took two to three days.

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Grand Hotel
Qazvin, 2009

Even in the possibility of being, in this place that one day was one of the luxurious hotels of Iran I face desolate and soulless rooms.
Room number 16… room number 8… room number…
Anywhere in this abandoned hotel I catch the sight of people that are impassive and archaic like the color of walls.
The eyes search along with me and take me to the quest of the possibility of being.
The story that lingers on as long as you are!

Père Lachaise
Paris 2006-2007

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Family Burial Chambers
Qazvin 2004-2008

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Ye Photograph, remain eternal as a memorial of me!
2004-2006

Once again, they are in front of a photographer. Now nobody dies for them and nobody falls in love with them. Only their memory comes and goes every now and then. In their time, they would step into a photography atelier to eternalize themselves and today I, the photographer, have stepped into their sanctum to record their photos. When they look at me from the two-dimensional frame of their photos; I feel I should say, “Please smile!” and they smile only for a moment and as soon as I manage to push the shutter I find myself in the atelier; but their photographs have been there for years and the whole affair takes place only in my imagination.
The photographs of the present exhibition have been taken during the years 2004 and 2006 in one of the old graveyards of Qazvin. Some of the photos are more than 50 years old. No modification has been made on the photographs.

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Sea
2008(In progress)

Masouleh
1995-2011

Generally, I choose places for photography that have been seen many times and this being seen helps me find more: Masoule, graveyard, sea, and so on. The first time I entered Masoule, a heap of others’ photographs passed through my camera visor: windowpanes, storksbills, terraced roof tops and…but finally, I could manage to find my own view of this ancient city. I find a kind of poeticality in this city, which is formed at times by individuals, at times in things and sometimes in empty spaces.

Women’s shoe workshop
Tehran, alley Syed Ali, 1996

The New Year’s Eve is approaching. It is the final days of Bahman 1374 (February 1996). The dark, ominous third floor of a passage in Seyed Vali Alley is filled with the sharp scent of rubber glue and lingering cigarette smoke. Workers hammer away at delicate women’s dress shoes, crafted in a variety of colors. Everything unfolds in a rush—the shoes must be ready for the market as soon as possible, no matter how late the night has grown.
Fast-paced Western tunes collide with street-market songs, while images of movie stars and bitter inscriptions adorn the walls, creating a strange, almost surreal atmosphere. Observing the pictures and texts around them, one senses how deeply the workers are connected to their unfulfilled dreams and quiet passions.
And in such spaces, you sometimes encounter those who, having faced great disappointments, have transformed into profoundly gentle souls.

This is a women’s shoe workshop in Tehran, tucked into Seyed Vali Alley, just below Arg Square, at the beginning of 15 Khordad Street.

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Photobook / Mehdi Vosoughnia
Editor: Arash Hanaei – Mehdi Vosoughnia
15 x 21 cm / 108 Pages / Bilingual
First Edition 2015 / bon gah Publishers

BUY NOW

Anzali / Book / Mehdi Vosoughnia
Words: Arvin Illbeigi
19 x 22 cm / 120 Pages / Bilingual
First Edition 2014 / Nazar Publishing
ISBN 9786001521898

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Iran, année 38 / Book
21 x 28 cm / 192 Pages / French
First Edition 2017 / TEXTUEL Publishing
ISBN 9782845975811

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Mehdi Vosoughnia
Photographer
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Unit 2 No 6.1 Qabousnameh St.
Zohreh St. MofatteheShomali St.
Tehran, Iran.
Postal Code: 1588814815
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vosoughnia@gmail.com
info@mehdivosoughnia.com
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