Iranian Living Room

The exhibition “Iranian Living Room” presents a selection of photographs from the book “Iranian Living Room”, published by Fabrica.

Under the creative direction of Enrico Bossan, head of photography at Fabrica, 15 young Iranian photographers welcome us into the “Iranian living room”, a unique space beyond global media and local state. This is where life is lived in private in Iran; it is often where life takes place, in fact.

In this living room both literal and metaphorical, we are privileged to discover multiple interpretations of Iranian reality: cultural differences and similarities, solitude and conviviality, relaxation and excitement, dressing up for an interior life versus dressing up for the street, the rhythms of religious ceremony and the patterns of everyday life.

Where much life on the street is presented by the world’s media as foreign and inhibited, behind these closed doors the lens captures a life that is immediately recognisable in all its untrammelled richness. It takes on a central role as a kind of counterpoint to the contested street, functioning as a new public sphere. It is both far away and close to home. These vignettes are framed by young photographers who, through their own storytelling, might help change the stories we tell about Iran.

Fabrica is a communication research centre. It is based in Treviso, Italy, and is an integral part of the Benetton Group. Established in 1994, Fabrica offers young people from around the world a one-year scholarship, accommodation and a round-trip ticket to Italy, enabling a highly diverse group of researchers. The range of disciplines includes design, visual communication, photography, interaction, video, music and journalism. Fabrica is based in a campus centered on a 17th-century villa, restored and significantly augmented by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.