Newsha Tavakolian Wins Deloitte Photo Grant 2023, Retrospective at Mudec Milan

Newsha Tavakolian, an Iranian photographer from Tehran born in 1981, has been awarded the Deloitte Photo Grant 2023 in Italy. Her exhibition, "And They Laughed at Me," is currently on display at Mudec in Milan and was curated by Denis Curti, featuring two decades of her artistic journey. Beginning her career at the age of sixteen, she initially focused on daily life before shifting to portray the violence prevalent in Iran. Her fragmented visuals illustrate lives devoid of rights, with obscured faces representing the shattered hopes of feminism. Following her father's death, she experienced disillusionment, yet remnants of freedom remain. In 2023, Artribune recognized her as the best photographer alongside Sarah Moon. In a recent interview, she emphasized the awakening of women in Iran and the importance of self-reflection, asserting that true beauty originates from within.