America is an image before it becomes an experience. For those outside its borders, it first exists as a projection shaped by Hollywood, political discourse, and media narratives. In between drinks, I navigate the tension between perception and reality. The bar, a recurring motif in my work, is more than a social space. It becomes an unfiltered arena where stories unfold without pretense, where loneliness, camaraderie, and confrontation sit side by side. I do not just observe. I step in, engage, and begin a conversation. Faces, gestures, and gazes convey something personal, yet they also challenge the fixed image of America that is often presented to us. As an Iranian photographer, I bring my sense of distance. I am not an insider, but I am deeply immersed. In a place where identity is shaped both by the individual and by collective memory, my work asks questions. How do we see ourselves? How are we seen by others? And just as importantly, what is left unseen?
Next
Next