IMAGINING IDENTITY

Imagining Identity is a visual arts photography project conceived, supervised and curated by Sanaz Amidi, which celebrates the participants' individuality and the factors that shape their lives. The project was a collaboration of the Omid Foundation in Tehran and the Iranian Youth Development Association in London and the Rosetta Art Centre in London. It was implemented in the format of two photography workshops, one in Tehran with the young women of the Omid Foundation and artist Mehrdad Asgari and one in London with the young members of the Iranian Youth Development Association and artist Omid Salehi. At the end of the photography workshops, the participants attended multimedia workshops run by JadidOnline to produce multimedia stories. The works created in these workshops focus on how young people think about themselves and how they engage with the world around them. Particularly in the teenage years when they develop their self-image through seeing how others interact with them, messages they try to share and their relationships with parents, carers, peers etc… Creatively the project narrates some of the issues and emotions young people face some of which may be sensitive and unresolved. Many of the key issues addressed stir up important questions and strong feelings. The exhibition emphasizes the uniqueness of the identity of each of these young photographers. It combines their genetic being, cultural diversity, religious and linguistic backgrounds, their interests and abilities. It is affected by where and how they live, the country of origin of their parents and grandparents, and what they do with their lives.

EXHIBITIONS

A selection of the works from the photography workshops have or will be presented from April to November 2011 in exhibitions at the Beauchamp Club in London, the Silk Road Gallery in Tehran, the Canary Wharf Window Galleries in London and the Stephen Lawrence Gallery in London.

ECATALOGUE

An ecatalogue has been produced showing all of the photographs shown in the above referenced exhibitions. The catalogue also shows the venue addresses, dates, and opening times for all four venues plus the multimedia stories produced with JadidOnline. Browse the ecatalogue →

PURCHASE PHOTOGRAPHS

All photographs shown in the ecatalogue are for sale and available in three sizes. Each size is printed in an edition of 10.

The above prices are inclusive of shipping costs. All orders will be shipped by air mail to any destination worldwide. Photographs are shipped in tubes as printed matter airmail within four weeks of receipt of order.

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Online orders are processed in US Dollars. All net proceeds from the sale of photographs by the young women of the Omid Foundation will go to the Omid Foundation and all proceeds from the sale of photographs by the young members of IYDA will go to IYDA.

WHO'S WHO

Rosetta Art Centre (RAC)
Rosetta Studio Workshops, RAC is a visual art centre based in Stratford, London, whose mission is to support and develop individuals in creative and artistic fields.

Omid Foundations
Group of three charities based in Iran, the UK and the US that focuses on strengthening the social, emotional, and economic competencies of disadvantaged young women in Iran through a distinctive holistic approach.

Iranian Youth Development Association (IYDA)
Not-for-Profit and Non-Governmental Organisation, which is a support network for the Persian speaking community of south east London.

Sanaz Amidi
Head of Centre, Rosetta Art Centre since 2007. Amidi has studied both Visual Fine Art and Accountancy (MAAT) and served as a project manager, trustee, development worker, lecturer, facilitator and external moderator in the education, youth and community sector for over 12 years.

Omid Salehi
Freelance photo journalist based in the UK, His photographs of events in Iran during since the Khatami era have been widely published in Iran and the West. Rose Issa Galleries is planning an exhibition of his photographs in 2012.

Mehrdad Asgari
Freelance photographer based in Iran, who also writes about and teaches photography. His photographs have been widely exhibited both in Iran and the West.

Jadid Media
Set up in 2005 specialising in media development, training, and production with a focus on Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the wider Islamic world, Jadid Media has unique expertise in this region and a wide network of professional contacts. It works closely with international and local media organisations, educational and other public service institutions.