Burnt Generation

Interesting exhibition at Somerset House of work by eight Iranian photographers on the theme of dissolution, loneliness and the dissolution of youth.

The works were shown in a lovely large format but I would suggest using anti-reflective glass as on a nice sunny day it was difficult to see some of the pictures without a lovely image of yourself in the middle of it!

A number of the pictures reminded me of the art historic idea of the history painting such as Azden Akhlaghi’s recreation of events from eye witness accounts and Gohar Dushti’s created scenes in a barren landscape. I particularly liked one of those of 11 women in black on a very long sofa.

Babek Kazemi’s pictures of house numbers super imposed with pictures of local people were quite moving giving an idea of the life which might have gone on in the houses before the population was displaced.

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