Gateway, 2024
Digital photograph

 

Art serves as a profound conduit through which I articulate and convey my deepest emotions and thoughts. Throughout my photographic journey, it has remained an invaluable tool, enabling me to externalize the intricacies of my inner world with both clarity and authenticity. Moreover, I perceive art not only as a medium for self-expression but also as a powerful instrument for Self-healing.

As an Iranian woman who has recently immigrated to the U.S., I am in a state of extreme emotional and identity ambivalence. I am an Iranian woman who has always been a witness and victim of discrimination, restriction and social injustices in my country, and my experience in the U.S. has been characterized by a newfound sense of freedom, accompanied by an array of novel and challenging encounters. I am documenting the essence of America through the lens of an outsider--an outsider coming from an Islamic country with distinct cultural background.

- Fatemeh Fani