Wednesday 18 November 2015

Newsha Tavakolian

Newsha Tavakolian
Newsha Tavakolian (born 1981 in Tehran) is an Iranian photojournalist and documentary photographer. She has worked for Time Magazine, The New York Times, Le Figaro, and National Geographic.
She is particularly known for focusing on women's issues in her work, and has been a member of the Rawiya women's photography collective, she co-established in 2011.
Tavakolian is a nominee member of Magnum Photos.






















Born and brought up in Tehran, at age 16, Tavakolian did a 6-month photography course, thereafter she began working as professional photographer in Iranian press. She started at the women's daily newspaper Zan, and later worked for other nine reformist dailies, all since banned.
When she covered the July 1999 student uprising, using her Minolta with 50mm lens, her photographs were published in several publications.

She got her international break in 2001 at age 21, when she met J.P. Pappis, founder Polaris Images, New York at a photography festival in Perpignan, France. Thereafter, she began covering Iran for Polaris Images, in the same year, and started working as a freelancer for The Times in 2004. Over the years, she has been working internationally, covering wars, natural disasters and social documentary stories in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen.[5] Her work has been published by international magazines and newspapers such as in Time Magazine, Newsweek, Stern, Le Figaro, Colors, New York Times Magazine, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, NRC Handelsblad and National Geographic.
 



http://www.newshatavakolian.com/index.php#a=0&at=0&mi=1&pt=0&pi=10&s=0&p=-1



A common theme in her work is photo stories of women, friends and neighbours in Iran, evolving role of women in overcoming gender-based restrictions, and contrasts the stereotypes in western media.
Her photo projects include Mother of Martyrs (2006), Women in the Axis of Evil (2006), The Day I Became a Woman (2010) and Look (2013), which opened at Thomas Erben Gallery, New York City.

She was part of the 2006 Joop Swart Masterclass organized by World Press Photo.
In 2007 she was a finalist for the Inge Morath Award. Her work has been exhibited and collected at institutions such as the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Somerset House, London. (April 2014), where she was one of eight Iranian photographers featured in the critically acclaimed "Burnt Generation" exhibition.
In June 2015 Tavakolian became a nominee member of Magnum Photos.

She lives and works in Tehran and is married to the Dutch journalist Thomas Erdbrink.






Saturday 7 November 2015

Bruno Torfs' fantasy garden

The original and unique artworks of sculptor and painter Bruno Torfs ( Australia) continues to bring joy and inspiration to visitors from all over the world. Nestled amongst the luscious rainforest setting lives a collection of unforgettable characters lovingly hand crafted by Bruno from clay and fired onsite in his kiln. Bruno has created a world rich with fantasy and insightful beauty derived from his imagination and inspired by his intrepid journeys to some the world most intriguing and remote regions.






















































































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Unfortunately on the 7th of February 2009 a bushfire raged through the township, decimating everything in its path without mercy and claimed the lives of our friends and neighbours indiscriminately. Bruno was extremely lucky to survive and the rest of the family are safe and well. Bruno's home and art gallery were unfortunately completely destroyed in the blaze.


Bruno chose to stay in Marysville (Australia) to rebuild his home and restore the gardens. Bruno’s passion to share his love of art and the story of life with the world has not been damaged by the fires, in fact you would almost say it has been forged anew by the flames that nearly took it all away.

Whether you are new to Bruno’s works or a friend from way back, rest assured that this is far from the end of anything, it is just the beginning of something even more special.


website: http://www.brunosart.com/






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