Sadegh Tirafkan
Born in Iraq in 1965 to Iranian parents, he moved to Iran when he was six years of age, when his family fled the country before the start of the Islamic revolution. He graduated from Tehran University with a degree in Photography in 1989. His work focuses on themes of Iranian traditions and religious rituals: he uses his knowledge of culture to explore his Persian identity and his strong attachment to his Persian roots clearly shows in his artwork. Using still photographs as a starting point, he then employs different media such as video installation, and collage. Tirafkan's work includes Manhood, which deals with masculinity in Persian culture and reflects on the role of the Iranian male in the present time. Other works such as Persepolis, Ashoura, Secret of Words and Whispers of the East deal with history, identity, religious and gender issues. His latest project, The Loss of Our Identity, explores the effect an increased presence of Western sensibilities and influences has had on the youth of present-day Iran.
He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including Candlestar's Whispered Secrets, Murmuring Dreams in London in 2008.
