About me
Maryam Firuzi, the Iranian visual artist, discussed her multidisciplinary influences in an interview with Elles x Paris Photo in 2021. She stated, “I am convinced that mediums are related to each other. Persian calligraphy taught me discipline and dedication, painting offered me freedom of expression, and literature provided a structured way to develop and articulate my ideas.” Firuzi began her journey in art with specialized training in calligraphy from the Iranian Calligraphy Association. Her early exposure to painting, guided by various teachers, further enriched her artistic foundation. After navigating the diverse realms of art and literature, she pursued cinema studies at Tehran University of Arts. Her passion for Persian literature and poetry led her to focus on screenwriting, and she later specialized in filmmaking and film studies, culminating in a thesis on self-reflexivity in cinema. Born during a turbulent era in contemporary Iran, Firuzi has always viewed art as her primary means of self-expression. She believes art allows her to explore and articulate her deepest, most inaccessible emotions. Her work addresses cultural crises, gender issues, and identity problems, all through a self-reflective lens. She perceives Iran as a juncture between Western civilization and Eastern heritage, a position that has historically fostered conflict and complex dialogues on gender, identity, and culture. For Firuzi, art provides a critical entry point into these multifaceted discussions. Firuzi’s cinematographic work often blurs the boundaries between fiction and documentary, capturing moments where constructed images reveal profound truths. Her projects frequently integrate her own presence within the narrative. In “Reading for Tehran Street,” she is both creator and subject, while in “Scattered Memories of a Distorted Future,” she identifies with the subjects depicted. Her work “In the Shadow of Silent Women” explores the roles of women in local communities, aiming to uncover her ancestral roots. Through these projects, Firuzi challenges traditional notions of authorship and subject, creating a dynamic interplay that continuously shifts the viewer’s perception of identity and authorship. Her inaugural series, “Reading for Tehran Streets,” draws from various art forms, including cinematic storytelling, Persian poetry, and painting. Firuzi has twice been awarded the Peace Medal of the Global Peace Photo Award (2018 & 2022). Her works have been featured in numerous photo festivals and exhibitions, including the La Gacilly Photo Festival in France and Austria, the 9th Daegu Photo Biennial in South Korea, the “Open Your Eyes” Photo Festival in Zurich, the Art & Folk Craft Museum in the United States, and the Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus in Berlin. She was also the laureate of the 6th edition of the IWPA Award in 2022. Her latest photo series is exhibited at the Albert Kahn Museum in Paris in 2024.