City headache - Loulou d’Aki

CITY HEADACHE

TEHRAN

The Islamic dress code implies on women to cover their hair with a hijab and to wear a Manteau over their clothes outside. As in many other aspects of the Iranian society, this means a great deal of compromise on a daily basis and it gives way for a double life. Men do not have to follow any specific dress code but the Islamic republic does not allow shorts, long hair and tattoos.

The post-war generations’ way of handling the Iranian dress code in its own way within a society where the urban recollection of war and martyrdom is an unevitable and constant factor fascinated me so I portrayed young women and men in their different outfits: one dressed for inside, according to their desires and one for outside adapting to the Iranian dress code.

Bahman poses for a portrait in his living room, dressed for outside

A mural of spiritual leader Khomeini on one side and a war martyr brothers on the other, in a southern Tehran residential area.

A mural of spiritual leader Khomeini and war martyrs on a building in southern Tehran.

Sahar poses for a portrait in a salt cave, dressed for inside.

Sahar poses for a portrait in a salt cave, dressed for outside.

An ambulant street vendor stands in front of a mural in downtown Tehran.

Boys play soccer on a summer afternoon in Ekbatan neighborhood, western Tehran.

Bahman poses for a portrait in his living room, dressed for outside..

Andisheh in the first rays of spring Andisheh on the first day of spring, in the courtyard of her new apartment.

A poster of Khomeini hangs on a fence on the day of the commeration of his death.

Saba poses for a portrait at home after a shower.

Sasan dressed for inside Sasan poses for a portrait in the living room, dressed for inside.

Sasan poses for a portrait in the living room, dressed for outside.

A mural of war martyrs on a building.

Sanam poses for a portrait in her garden, dressed for inside. Sanam, who is half French and studied photography in Paris, temporarily lives in her parents villa in northern Tehran. The Iranian dress code bothers her. She doesn’t like neither the veil nor

Sanam dressed for inside Sanam poses for a portrait in her garden, dressed for inside. Sanam, who is half French and studied photography in Paris, temporarily lives in her parents villa in northern Tehran. The Iranian dress code bothers her. She doesn’t l

Sanam dressed for outside Sanam poses for a portrait in her garden, dressed for inside. Sanam, who is half French and studied photography in Paris, temporarily lives in her parents villa in northern Tehran. The Iranian dress code bothers her. She doesn’t

A mural of a war martyr on a building in downtown Tehran.

Rahi poses for a portrait in her living room, dressed for outside. Belonging to a strictly religious family, Rahi would wear a chador outside during her time as a married woman. Her parents made her marry at the age of 18, she divorced her husband after 6

Rahi dressed for outside Rahi poses for a portrait in her living room, dressed for outside. Belonging to a strictly religious family, Rahi would wear a chador outside during her time as a married woman. Her parents made her marry at the age of 18, she div

The city View from Kuhestan, northern Tehran.

LOULOU D’AKI