People Of My City – (Extended)

This ongoing Project started in 2015. It focuses on the daily life activities of the fast paced city of Tehran, which has a population of over 15 million people. Tehran (the Capital of Iran) became a diverse metropolitan city situated in an almost surreal landscape. Iranian citizens migrate from smaller cities and villages to the metropolis of Tehran in order to pursue elementary aspects of life such as: employment, healthcare, and happiness.

This environment, with such a rich mosaic of cultures; countered by the economic and social levels of society create a fragmented background for Mehdi—which he uses to capture the essence of life through his artistic vision. The long cultural transition which followed the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the eight taxing years of imposed war with Iraq, and the 35 years of international sanctions—transformed Iranians into a conservative and reserved nation. As a result, the presence of professional cameras is often unwelcome. Moreover, with the proliferation of mobile phone photography, a situation arose, giving an opportunity for daily life to be captured from a very close distance.