Rewriting history: a conversation between Parham Taghioff and Hamidreza Karami

ABSTRACT

This illustrated conversation between Parham Taghioff and Hamidreza Karami focuses on Taghioff’s profound engagement with history and the philosophy of history within his photographic projects. The dialogue explores how Taghioff’s work reveals the common tendency for individuals to unwittingly cast themselves as characters in the historical drama without a conscious understanding of their roles. Key projects, such as the ‘Hands On/Hands Off’ (2014) and the ‘Asymmetrical Authority’ series (2018), are discussed, emphasising the artist’s reliance on personal historical understanding and historical memory. Taghioff highlights the dynamic nature of historical comprehension, stressing that continual emergence of new facts, documents and narratives prevents a definitive understanding of the past. The conversation also touches on Taghioff’s perspective as a contemporary artist in Iran, highlighting the need to examine history to grasp one’s contemporary position. The conversation concludes with insights into Taghioff’s artistic methodology, involving the analysis and use of archival materials, texts and images to reconstruct and critically examine various historical perspectives.

KEYWORDS:

• Contemporary history of Iran
• personal history
• historical drama
• national identity
• contemporaneity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Jerry Saltz, Instagram Official Page, https://www.instagram.com/p/CkuSzCitpbz/?igsh=ZDE1MWVjZGVmZQ==

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hamidreza Karami

Hamidreza Karami (1969, Iran) is a curator, researcher, art consultant, translator, writer, tutor and visual artist. He holds a bachelor’s degree in photography (2006) and a master’s degree in philosophy of art (2010) from Tehran University of Art. Since 2000, he has started his artistic career in photography, painting, video art and installation, and has presented his works in dozens of individual and group exhibitions both inside and outside Iran. As a curator he has organized several exhibitions of the works of modern and contemporary Iranian artists domestically and internationally. His other activities include translation and writing critique and articles on art for publications as well as artists’ catalogue. He has also lectured and participated in discussions and round tables on modern and contemporary Iranian and Middle Eastern art. He has been teaching at Tehran Art University as a guest lecturer since 2013. He lives and works in Tehran.

Parham Taghioff

Parham Taghioff (1978, Iran) is an artist, photographer, art director and part time lecturer. He is graduated from New York Institute of Photography (2009). Renowned for his thought-provoking solo exhibitions such as Hands on/Hands off, Aun Gallery (2014) and Asymmetrical Authority, Etemad Gallery (2019), Taghioff’s work explores the realms of conceptual art, contemporary photography and video installations. His portfolio extends to group exhibitions across the globe, including Armenia, Czech Republic, United Kingdom and the United States. Taghioff has earned recognition in international competitions such as the Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize and garnered acclaim for his architectural photography, receiving notable awards like the architecture photography MasterPrize. As an educator, he imparts his knowledge through lectures and workshops, addressing topics ranging from contemporary photography to the intricacies of fine art photography and the interaction of photography with architecture and urban space. Taghioff has shared his artistic expertise and experience through lectures and panel discussions at institutions like the University of Tehran and Contemporary Architect Association of Iran.