Khashayar Javanmardi's Journey Through the Caspian: a Visual Tale of Beauty, Change and Connection

In his work, Caspian, Javanmardi captures the poignant transformation of the Caspian Sea, revealing how environmental change intertwines with the lives and stories of those who depend on its fading beauty.

Long before the continents drifted apart and the Caspian Sea came into being, there was the Tethys Ocean—a pure remnant of an ancient world. When the landmasses separated, that ocean became landlocked, its waters turning fresh, eventually transforming into the Caspian Sea—a unique relic from prehistoric times, as Khashayar Javanmardi describes it.

For eight years, Javanmardi immersed himself in capturing the essence of the southern shores of the Caspian Sea from the Iranian coastline, a journey that culminated in his photobook Caspian, Southern Reflections.

This place holds deep significance for him, a landscape where the sky, the warmth of summer, and the sandy beaches intertwine with the lives of people from all walks of life, united by their shared culture and connection to the Caspian Sea. Everything meaningful in Javanmardi’s life seems to have roots in this cherished region, he says.

As Javanmardi began reflecting on his life, he became more aware of the environmental changes unfolding around him. His deep connection to the region made him particularly sensitive to these transformations. The sea began to grow more tainted, and increasing warnings about the dangers of consuming its fish further underscored the severity of the situation. Economic shifts also took a toll, as possessions dwindled and people struggled. Climate change was also a growing concern, with mismanagement further driving the unsettling transformation he witnessed. This beautiful landscape began to suffer, its pain seeping into everything—the people, the land, and the delicate threads that bound them together. This realization ignited his project, leading Javanmardi to journey across the region, exploring vast expanses in his quest to capture the soul of this transformation.

His deep curiosity about the region and its people drove him to weave together their stories and their connection to the environment. He engaged with the locals, often capturing their portraits amid the landscapes they call home. Each portrait, he says, holds a story, and their words are as essential as the images themselves. One poignant narrative that ties the region, its inhabitants, and the broader environmental challenges is that of the flamingos. Once vital migratory birds, they are now a rare sight. Yet, in one part of the Caspian, Javanmardi discovered a small square where the locals had erected statues of flamingos, preserving the memory of the birds.

This sense of loss and preservation reflects Javanmardi’s broader fascination with the Caspian Sea. He is captivated by how the sea forges deep connections and interlinks various facets of life. Everyone has a tie to the sea, he says—through work, family, or personal experience. His project is deeply personal, drawing from his own memories and seeking to uncover remnants of the region's lost beauty and to understand how people adapt and live amidst these profound changes.

Despite the challenges, the Caspian Sea remains full of life. Whether early morning or late at night, the shoreline is always alive with people, either enjoying leisure or fishing. In one of his photos, the silhouette of a man on a tractor stands starkly against the sea, with sunlight bathing the waves and capturing the sea’s enduring vibrancy. Even in its quiet moments, there’s an undercurrent of constant activity—an ever-present vitality that defines the Caspian.

In another photo from Rasht, in the Gilan Province, Javanmardi captures the stark reduction in rainfall, showing women gathered on a hill, earnestly praying for rain. Once celebrated as the "City of Rain," Rasht used to experience frequent autumn showers, but in recent years, this resource has drastically diminished, underscoring the severe impact of climate change on the region.

This diminishing rainfall exemplifies a deeper truth: our lives are profoundly intertwined with the environment. Javanmardi’s ultimate goal is to convey this intricate connection, illustrating that as nature suffers, so too do the lives of those who depend on it.

In this context, he also seeks to highlight that the Caspian Sea is in grave danger. Without immediate intervention, the situation could spiral into an ecological calamity within the next two decades, with potentially devastating consequences for millions of people, including widespread displacement.

While he does not claim to have all the answers to this complex issue, Javanmardi underscores the urgent need for action. The severity of Caspian Sea’s plight demands our attention and swift response, as the fate of this vital body of water is far too significant to ignore.

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Khashayar Javanmardi (b. 1991) is a Persian lens-based artist from Iran whose evocative work explores the intricate relationships between nature, culture, and identity. Growing up along the shorelines of Iran has profoundly influenced his artistic vision. Currently based in Lausanne, Switzerland, his reflections on his homeland reveal the contradictions inherent in communicating themes of culture and global politics, portraying a personal narrative of devastation and longing. Javanmardi has been working as a photojournalist since the age of 19 with Jam Photo Agency, and his documentary work has been published in newspapers and publications worldwide. Javanmardi is also the founder and director of Hayaat Art Space. In 2023, Javanmardi was shortilsted and received the special jury mention for the prestigious Prix Elysée, was a winner of the Un/Fund Award 2023, and recently won second Prize for the PhMuseum 2024 Photography Grant.

Lucia De Stefani is a writer and editor focusing on photography, illustration, and everything teens. She lives between New York and Italy. Find her on Instagram and Twitter.