Iranian Women's Prison

[Rasputin]

This photo exhibit is by Zahra Ranjbar who has so exquisitely captured the pain with which Iranian women go through prison life.

About the photographer

Zahra Ranjbar is a graduate of photography from the Arts University of Tehran. Her graduation thesis consisted of research in the history of documentary photography and it's function as a social tool. Ranjbar has been working as a professional photogtapher and journalist for the municipality of Tehran. She is Deputy Editor of the municipalitie's magazine, Hamgaman. Her work has been widely used by the Iranian press.

She was an original member of the group that set up the first Iranian Photojournalist's Association and is the association's deputy general secretary. Her personal work, documenting religious customs and traditions and places of worship, have won many awards. Born in 1969 in Damghan, eastem Iran, Zahra grew up in a working class family, her father being employed by the Iranian Railway Services.

She spent her schooling days at various parts of Iran, according to where her father and family were commissioned. By the time she entered high school her family had moved to Tehran, where she finished her schooling and entered the Arts University of Tehtan.

Whert Zahra was nine years old, the Islamic Revolution of Iran changed the course of history for this part of the world. Growing up amidst the turbulence of those revolutionary years. political upheavals and war, has made Zahra a truly `Child of the Revolution': politically and socially aware and active young person, seeking the betterment of her social iife.

At the University, Zahra concentrated her efforts on social documentary photographic work, believing that the purpose of real art is to function as a social and popular form of expression and not as a purety decorative, pleasing pastime. She photographed living and working conditions of various parts ofthe Iranian society. At the same time she also studied the history of the devebpment of social documentary photography.

At the end of her studies she presented her thesis titled ' The Functions of Photographs in Creating Social Change.' Her `practical work' presentation was a photo essay of the conditions of life for women inside the Evin prison in Tehtan. She revealed the fiving conditions of the prisoner's children who had no one else to look after them. The University's Jury board awarded her an astounding 19/20 mark. one of the best in the university's records!

After leaving the University, Zahra started her professional operations and career, doing various freelance work for different government and non-government organizations.

She also worked as a news photographer for various Iranian publications. Later she joined the Public Relations dept. of the Tehran Municipality. working for it's offcial publication, Hamgaman, as both a writer and photographer. Today she is continuing her work at the Hamgaman magazine.

Zahra is a founding member of the Iranian Photojournalists Association, which is the official and popular forum for young Iranian photographers. She writes a regular report on the activities of the Association for the Iranian monthly photo magazine, Aks (photograph).

Zahra has participated in many collective photo exhibitions in Iran and abroad, and has had her photographs used by various international magazines. She has won many awards for her work and efforts.