Behind the scenes by Newsha Tavakolian.
For the opening of the exhibition ‘Emotions of the Sun’, Magnum Photos is showing the works of eight different photographers at the Salone Del Mobile in Milan. Big names such as Steve McCurry, Alex Webb, Trent Parke, Olivia Arthur, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Cristina de Middel, Nanna Heitmann and Newsha Tavakolian, in collaboration with Veuve Cliquot, show their very personal interpretation of the meaning of the sun. To celebrate the beauty of warmth, brightness and optimism, Iranian photographer Newsha Tavakolian presents a work that embraces the strength of women. She 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. For SLEEK, Tavakolian talks about her thoughts of her work for the exhibition ‚Emotions of the Sun‘.
Exhibition Emotions of the Sun.
S: Dear Newsha Tavakolian, you are presenting at the exhibition ‚Emotions of the Sun‘ in Collaboration with Magnum Photos and Veuve Cliquot in Milan. It is entirely up to the participants how they realise the theme. What was your inspiration for ‘Emotions of the Sun’?
Newsha Tavakolian: I am often inspired by the women of Iran, in awe of their power and courage. The events of the past couple of years have influenced my work a lot. As an artist, I have the opportunity to speak with clarity through my camera lens. In the past, I used to tell stories that showed what was going wrong in the world. But recently, I have shifted my gaze. I am not interested in representing what is wrong with the world. What I want to do is cultivate hope and show the courage of people, here in Iran and elsewhere in the world. While brainstorming ideas for ‘Emotions of the Sun,’ I thought of this woman who has a beautiful garden. The garden needs the sun, and through caring for the garden, she realizes that the garden inside her needs just as much care and warmth.
S: How did you curate the five photos that were displayed?
NT: When I started thinking about the project, I spoke a lot with the team at Magnum Photos, Veuve Cliquot and curator Pauline Vermare. I was totally inspired by the founder of Veuve Cliquot. I started to get to grips with Madame Cliquot. Her story as a widow who inherited a business is very inspiring; she was such a clever and influential businesswoman, especially at that time in the 1800s. Because she was a woman, I wanted to pick up on this theme in my photos. So I started taking pictures and ended up with about 20 photos. One of them was taken in the desert near Tehran, which we decided to choose for the exhibition. For this photo, I slept in the desert and watched the breathtaking sunrise.
S: What does the sun symbol in your photographs?
NT: The sun evokes a new beginning. The sun is the beginning of everything in my work. It’s the start of hope and the advent of victory over darkness.
S: How was the work together with curator Pauline Vermare like?
NT: It was great as she is so experienced in telling visual stories and she adds highly creative layers to the work, I love her!
S: Your work often captures intimate moments and emotions. How do you approach gaining the trust of the people you take photos of, particularly in sensitive situations?
NT: I’ve been working in my field for about 25 years. I always prioritize the safety and agency of my subjects. People are sensitive and clever. If you are there looking for a story, they may not trust you enough to open up. But if they see that you respectfully take the time to get to know and understand them, trust can be established. It’s very important to be patient and listen to people.