Persian Rugs and the Iranian Everyday

Photographer Jalal Sepehr in Yazd

“Two Windows” from Knot series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

Jalal Sepehr’s Knot series (2011) is comprised of 12 images all including a Persian rug (1m x 70cm) taken in the historic city of Yazd in central Iran. Contrary to initial intentions, some of the images in Knot make use of the historic scenes and examples of architecture found in Yazd. In this series, Sepehr strove to depict a space in between traditional and everyday life in his pictures. To do so, he made use of the rug and architecture as representative of tradition in opposition to the individuals pictured, dealing with the issues of everyday life.

Sepehr creates visual excitement by placing valued Persian carpets which are normally used as beautiful floor coverings in unusual and unexpected environments like on ancient stairs, sandy beaches, roof tops, and floating  in water and air between two buildings.  Liberated from their role as mere home furnishing, the carpets become idealized in Sepehr’s photographs which further suggests the carpets as the connecting tissue of Iranians and their environment.  “What inspired me to take these photos was creating new moments, in which the rugs float and dance in the water” the artist explains.  

The colors’ silent whisper

The wool’s palpitation of blood through the knot’s vessels

And the fingers’ sweet souls which are trampled …

-- from Ahmad Shamlu’s “To the Scarlet Blossom of a Dress”

“A Gate in the Way” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

 “From this side to that side” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

 “A Look at the Past” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

 “Hands” by Knot series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

“Closing and Leaving” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

“Thrown Away” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

“A Half Look at the Past” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

“A Contrast” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

“Uncertainty” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

“A Procession of Mourning” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

 “A View” from Knot Series (Yazd, 2011) by Jalal Sepehr. Courtesy of the artist.

Jalal Sepehr was born in 1968 and currently resides in Tehran. A self-taught photographer, Sepehr took up amateur photography in 1994 while living in Japan. In 1999, he began his work as an industrial and advertising photographer. Later, he transitioned into fine art photography and became co-director and co-founder of the website Akse Fanoos (the “Lantern’s Picture”), which he was involved in for six years. Beyond having participated in tens of exhibits both abroad and within Iran, Sepehr’s photography has been featured in galleries worldwide, including his series titled Water at the Silk Road Gallery (Tehran 2004), and his series Knot at the Khaki Gallery (Boston 2011).

Via  Khaki Gallery and Ajam Media Collective