Mehran Mohajer

Tehran Undated series

These two untitled photographs by Mehran Mohajer, from the artist’s series Tehran Undated, captures the nuanced interplay of memory, history, and urban transformation in contemporary Tehran. These photographs, part of a larger series, portray the city’s evolving landscape through a lens that melds the past and present. Mohajer’s work often features blurred, indistinct imagery, evoking a dreamlike quality that suggests the fading and fragmented nature of collective memory. The artist used a pinhole square format camera for this work, embracing the long exposure time and low quality to rid the image of people and reveal a deserted city. It was also a way for the artists to pay homage to the early 20th century photographer Eugene Atget. One photograph features a city street mirrored in the glass facade of an adjacent building. The other highlights the convergence of Tehran’s built environment and its counter culture (in the form of bright red graffiti). In each image, the viewer is presented with a scene that is both familiar and elusive, reflecting Tehran’s rapid modernization juxtaposed with its rich historical heritage. The use of muted colors and soft focus adds to the ethereal atmosphere, inviting contemplation on how personal and societal histories are recorded and remembered. Mohajer’s artistry lies in his ability to evoke a sense of place that is transient yet deeply rooted, encouraging viewers to reflect on the ongoing changes within their environments and the memories these changes engender.