Parisa Azadi's 'Ordinary Grief' Debuts in Italy at Cortona On the Move
Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Parisa Azadi (Tehran, 1986; lives in Dubai) presents her project 'Ordinary Grief' for the first time in Italy at Palazzo Baldelli in Cortona, as part of the 15th edition of the international photography festival Cortona On the Move (directed by Veronica Nicolardi, artistic direction by Paolo Woods, curated by collective Kublaiklan). The work, created between 2017 and 2022 in Iran, combines photographs and texts exploring Azadi's return to her birthplace after emigrating to Canada at age eight. She documents public and private life across Iran—from Tehran to the Chalus Road (Road 59) connecting Karaj and Chalus on the Caspian Sea coast—capturing moments of intimacy, resistance, and everyday defiance. The project includes a short film 'Yadegari' co-directed with filmmaker and sound artist José Bautista, assembled from WhatsApp videos and screen captures during the Women, Life Freedom movement (2022–2024). Azadi's photographs have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vogue.
Key facts
- Parisa Azadi's 'Ordinary Grief' is exhibited for the first time in Italy at Palazzo Baldelli, Cortona.
- The exhibition is part of the 15th edition of Cortona On the Move festival.
- The festival is directed by Veronica Nicolardi with artistic direction by Paolo Woods and curated by collective Kublaiklan.
- Azadi was born in Tehran in 1986 during the Iran-Iraq War and emigrated to Canada at age 8.
- She currently lives and works in Dubai.
- The project spans 2017 to 2022, with photographs taken across Iran including Tehran and Chalus Road.
- The short film 'Yadegari' was co-directed with José Bautista using footage from the Women, Life Freedom protests.
- Azadi's work has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vogue.
Entities
Artists
- Parisa Azadi
- José Bautista
- Veronica Nicolardi
- Paolo Woods
Institutions
- Cortona On the Move
- Palazzo Baldelli
- Kublaiklan
- The New York Times
- The Guardian
- Vogue
- Artribune
Locations
- Cortona
- Italy
- Tehran
- Iran
- Canada
- Dubai
- Karaj
- Chalus
- Caspian Sea