Abstraction, Photography

Exploring the Red Zone

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Iranian photographer Jalal Sepehr offers a rare perspective on global affairs through his recent series, “Red Zone;” the title refers to the unending state of alarm and panic thrust upon Middle Eastern populations as war and political unrest become commonplace.  A road paved with Persian rugs lays at the center of each composition as it disappears into the horizon, establishing the common cultural thread shared by a people displaced. It feels as though the viewer is a part of this arduous journey, invited to walk the road ahead.  Various obstacles – a sandstorm, a massive wall, a plane, and even a black hole – impede this almost idyllic path in each scene.  While nothing but empty desert surrounds the trail of rugs, one cannot traverse the void; a sense of exclusivity accompanies the path as though it is the only useable route for an entire people.  Cloudy, grey skies above create a sense of imminent danger, foreshadowing the troubles that lay ahead.
A Tehran Native, Sepehr presents  genuine insight  into the social and cultural impacts caused by a seemingly perpetual state of national instability.  The “Red Zone” artfully translates a community’s complex hardship into a simplified, relatable visual metaphor.

    string(13) "Lizzie Wright"
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Lizzie

​Lizzie Wright is an aspiring artist and designer with a passion for the written word. While she works on her BFA in Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), she spends her (rare) spare time riding around Providence on her trusty Cannondale and drinking lots of coffee. She is especially fascinated by the dichotomy between aesthetic form and function, which has an immense influence on her work. As a lover of the natural world, Lizzie plans to focus on Nature, Culture, and Sustainability Studies to pursue a more efficient future for design. Read more by visiting her website

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