For her series Iranian Fathers & Daughters, Nafise Motlaq photographed families in their own homes:
Motlaq’s subjects encompass a wide range of economic and cultural backgrounds. Some families are religious, while others subscribe to a more secular lifestyle. Motlaq explains that Iranian Fathers & Daughters has allowed her to reevaluate some of the prejudices she herself held about her home. Since the government regulates national television and other media outlets, she found she had a limited view of those living outside of her community. Says the artist, “Putting these portraits together shows the reality of us; it shows how diverse we are.” She hopes to continue the project during her next trip home.
Motlaq, who currently works as a communications instructor at University Putra Malaysia, described her inspiration for the project in an interview:
I was driven to begin “Fathers and Daughters” after my father nearly passed away. His illness and then eventual recovery brought us much closer. When I visited Iran in 2014, after seven years away from the country, the idea sprang to mind. …
I strongly believe story-telling is important in photography. Photo-stories not only describe what’s in front of the camera but also who is behind it. The editing of a series of images reveals the photographer’s perspective and his or her views about the issue. For example, when I’m in Malaysia, I find it very easy to make street photographs—quick, slightly distant work, that’s done in public. But it is only in Iran where I can reach deeper levels of communication with my subjects. My familiarity with Iranians lets me know how to deal with them and allows me capture their real moments.
See more of her work here.
The Dish 