Intimacy

The project got started when Marjan returned to her home country of Iran after almost ten years of living in Canada. Migrating to a country far from home bonded her to camera. Upon returning to Iran to pursue her passion in documentary photography, Marjan had the urge to explore the deeper layers of the society which are too deep to reach easily. Iranian society is a complex society of different tribal and ethnical groups. Through the history, the society had to adapt to a new sets of rules and ethics continuously. Traditions on the other hand, always empowered the society. While keeping up with the traditions and the rules through the history, majority of Iranians are not willing to share their private moments which might oppose with the traditions or what is dictated to them.

Exploring the existential aspects of the society in deep, she started to get to know people of all kinds more and more. Gaining their trust to step into their intimate moments of their life, more she got close to the subjects, more she realized the complexity of human being in nature. Their resistance from being seen while their inner willingness of sharing at the same time contracts it. What is seen from outside is a consistent and similar lifestyle, but once the subjects are being explored in their privacy the unique aspect of each could be seen.

Approaching the subjects to explore their loneliness, Marjan intended to follow them as their shadow does, not being noticed but to be present there in one and each step. As she presented herself at their private moments, she was impressed by the quite and calm moments the subjects put themselves into. After what they all deal with during a day, they need moments and that one activity to make their minds of of the daily lives and take them to that intimate and calm state of mind.

Marjan’s main goal is to expose what is happening in the Iranian society beyond the challenges and crisis which are shown regularly. She aimed to get the audience touch the essence of the culture by getting to know one and each individual. She believes that once the society is understood as an individual in their profound moments of their life, we can learn about the issues and crisis happening in a society.

© Marjan Yazdi - A woman standing in front of a very quite beach of the Persian gulf, while uncovering her hijab.
i

A woman standing in front of a very quite beach of the Persian gulf, while uncovering her hijab.

© Marjan Yazdi - Elham, 34, trainer and athlete. Elam is getting ready to start a work out before her students arrive at the gym.
i

Elham, 34, trainer and athlete. Elam is getting ready to start a work out before her students arrive at the gym.

© Marjan Yazdi - Elham is boxing in her gym before the start of her session as a trainer.
i

Elham is boxing in her gym before the start of her session as a trainer.

© Marjan Yazdi - Shadow of Elham behind the gym door, when leaving the gym.
i

Shadow of Elham behind the gym door, when leaving the gym.

© Marjan Yazdi - Ahmad defines coffee as something beyond a drink. Coffee for him is a relief from the ups and downs of life.
i

Ahmad defines coffee as something beyond a drink. Coffee for him is a relief from the ups and downs of life.

© Marjan Yazdi - Ahmad is reading books while working in the bookstore.
i

Ahmad is reading books while working in the bookstore.

© Marjan Yazdi - Sogol, 27, horse lover. Since she was a small kid, she spent most of her free time with the horses.
i

Sogol, 27, horse lover. Since she was a small kid, she spent most of her free time with the horses.

© Marjan Yazdi - Afsaneh, 30, housewife. Afsaneh is holding a basket with the washed clothing in it.
i

Afsaneh, 30, housewife. Afsaneh is holding a basket with the washed clothing in it.

© Marjan Yazdi - Afsaneh doing the house jobs.
i

Afsaneh doing the house jobs.

© Marjan Yazdi - Playing with her phone, Afsaneh enjoys spending her free time on social media.
i

Playing with her phone, Afsaneh enjoys spending her free time on social media.

© Marjan Yazdi - A fisherman going to the sea very late night for fishing.
i

A fisherman going to the sea very late night for fishing.

© Marjan Yazdi - Naghmeh , 37, hair stylist. Naghmeh is helping her son in his homework.
i

Naghmeh , 37, hair stylist. Naghmeh is helping her son in his homework.

© Marjan Yazdi - Naghmeh oves to spend time for herself when she has free time at home.
i

Naghmeh oves to spend time for herself when she has free time at home.

© Marjan Yazdi - I was waiting in the car, when I noticed a shadow behind the window.
i

I was waiting in the car, when I noticed a shadow behind the window.

© Marjan Yazdi - Hamzeh is very determined and persuasive to win the first place in the competition.
i

Hamzeh is very determined and persuasive to win the first place in the competition.

© Marjan Yazdi - Hamzeh, 32, Athlete. Hamzeh practices for a competition in the next door field that is abundant.
i

Hamzeh, 32, Athlete. Hamzeh practices for a competition in the next door field that is abundant.

© Marjan Yazdi - Reflection in the window with the landmark of Tehran, Milad Tower.
i

Reflection in the window with the landmark of Tehran, Milad Tower.

© Marjan Yazdi - Marjan, 30, art historian. She has got a student visa to leave for Paris after years of waiting.
i

Marjan, 30, art historian. She has got a student visa to leave for Paris after years of waiting.

© Marjan Yazdi - For Marjan living in France is a dream come true.
i

For Marjan living in France is a dream come true.

© Marjan Yazdi - Looking out the window.
i

Looking out the window.

Latest Projects

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Stay in the loop


We will send you weekly news on contemporary photography. You can change your mind at any time. We will treat your data with respect. For more information please visit our privacy policy. By ticking here, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with them. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.