Self-portrait in the City
When I look at my pictures1 is like looking in a mirror of my thoughts and feelings
- Hamid Tabassomi Shad
The city becomes a mirror and reflects us. The shop windows, the markets, the museums, the parks, the birds, the buildings of the center and the people who live in the underpasses, narrate the multiple meanings, relationships, connections and ways of looking at ourselves through our experience of the city. Kaleidoscopic images of our ephemeral (and not) identities.
Amira Takkriti (kind participation)
“There are many things that make me happy, such as achieving success, traveling and meeting with loved ones, when I am saddened by failure, weakness and distance from my family. I really enjoy reading novels, watching movies and shopping and I care about several things. My family first and foremost, followed by my work, and now my further interest is to learn languages. In the future I hope to be a famous journalist, own a beauty salon and visit more than one country. Athens has great places such as the sea, museums and monuments, the food is delicious, the coffee tastes great, the people are very kind, you see nice dogs and one can have a vivid night life. I feel great harmony with the art of photography, I love it and it is one of my hobbies. When I take a self- portrait, I feel very confident and able to do what I want. Then when I look at my photos I see a strong, smart, and practical woman. My pictures sometimes show me a glimpse of my past and other times of my future, what is in store for me. Often, I see in them my goals that have not been achieved yet and that I seek to achieve“.
Kambiz Isakhani
“I am always dreaming, yet here I feel a sadness... I feel like a war – torn city. I miss my family, my job as a tailor and my life. In Athens I like the antiquities, the restaurants and the fact that is very crowded. I want my life to get better and to be able to help the refugees. Before the photography workshop when I was looking at my selfies I was focusing only on my body and I didn’t care showing anything else. I was taking pictures at random. I didn’t ask why I am taking these photographs. What is it hidden? What else is there to capture. My dream for the future is to become a youtuber.”.
Evra Lutonadio
“Athens is a city which is not only calm but also peaceful. The city is like a MOM that shelters different populations (colors and nationalities). Nature is good and beautiful to see, the view of animals is so pretty. I love the idea of looking at the birds flying, to watch them live peacefully as a family or in solo like humans do. The city is also home to very pretty flowers (women and girls). When I look at my self portraits I see a calm and social person, a lover. When I look at the pictures I have taken there are two words coming to my mind: fast and full. Love”.
Abdolmohammad Raouf
“My family and my friends are very important in my life. I hope I will get a Greek citizenship so I can travel around the world. When I visit a city for the first time I always like to visit the antiquities, the markets, the promenade and the museums. Athens is a lively and vibrant city with kind people. I like to visit its antiquities, the seaside, the hills. I see her like a bride without a groom. Yet, here I miss my family, my own home, my car and my old income. I feel like Aleppo, a war – destroyed city. I feel so good when I look at my photographs, they are like an extension of my heart but I also feel that I need to work harder”.
Emanouel Iftikhar Khan (kind participation)
“Two years ago I came here to Athens, Greece. I think that I am just like the city of Athens because Athens helps refugees a lot, giving food, shelter, clothing and money. Whenever people need my help, I never refuse them. I go with them to the doctor or the hospital as a translator. The very first thing when people reach Athens they ask about papers, so I guide them to the organization which is suitable for them and in general I try my best to help them. When I look at my pictures I feel grateful to God for his blessings in the form of a good mind, soul, body and good friends”.
Hamid Tabassomi Shad
“When I walk around Athens, the history and power of this country is in my mind. What I enjoy in the city is the freedom, the girls that are free to wear what they like, with or without hijab, the kindness of Greek people, the sea, the Acropolis and all the historical sites. I often wonder if the old buildings could speak what would they say about the history of the city, the wars and all the important events of this country. I love taking pictures of Athens because they can show my feelings and connection with the city. When I look at my pictures is like looking in a mirror of my thoughts and feelings. In Iran, I used to be a shopkeeper and worked also as a model, this is why I also like to take pictures of shop windows. My wish is when the regime in Iran changes, to return to my country and show all my photos of ancient Greek sites and culture and also be free again to travel all over the world”.
Nadjia Yaghoubi (kind participation)
“In my life three things are important: to be happy, to live in peace and being educated. My wish is to study psychology in Germany where my son lives. What makes me happy is nature and the beautiful landscapes. In Athens I enjoy the food, the peace, the weather, the smiles on the faces of people, its old history and culture, while I dislike the situation of the refugees, the problems with the homeless and feeling insecure. Here I miss my job, my friends and the Ziaratgah (a shrine to pray, yet, when I look at Kapnikareas church I dream of sleeping inside there). In my eyes, photography is like a universal language through which all the people of the world can communicate. Similarly, I feel that I can communicate with others through my photographs. With my pictures I would like to show the problems of the world”.
