The winner of the Bernd and Hilla Becher sponsorship award, which the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia presents every 3 years, is Hanna Darabi, an Iranian artist. Her country of origin is the main theme of her photo series, in which her photographs, in combination with texts, archive images and objects, show the political situation and economic conditions in her country. 

Düsseldorf is a city of culture and especially of art, which is due to its art academy, renowned art museums and a high density of galleries. With the Photo Prize, the city wants to honour the high status that photographic art has enjoyed in Düsseldorf for decades, but also create a prize that is on a par with the Turner Prize in London and the Prix Marcel Duchamp in Paris. In addition, Düsseldorf will be home to the German Photo Institute. The Düsseldorf photographer couple Bernd and Hilla Becher had studied together at the Düsseldorf Art Academy. Hilla Becher set up the first photo lab and her photography class at the art academy was the first of its kind in Germany.

Düsseldorf had paid tribute to women in Iran at several events in recent months, so it was not surprising that an Iranian artist had been chosen. With the award, the jury wanted to promote Darabi's artistic approach, "which uses the means of photography to illuminate the cultural border crossings between the Orient and the Occident." They also considered her work on the photobooks of the Iranian Revolution (1979-1983) and the Persian diaspora in Los Angeles "as significant impulses for documentary works of the future."

On the evening of the award ceremony, Hannah Darabi stood visibly moved next to award winner Carrie Mae Weems, who paid tribute to her colleague's work in her speech.

9 June 2023

Interview Directory 

ART

Name: Hannah Darabi

Occupation: Artist, photographer

Education: Tehran’s College of Fine Arts and University of Paris VIII-Saint-Denis

Photo books: Can be found at Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Kandinsky Library, Centre Pompidou, Paris, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, and the Royal Library of Belgium.

"Becher's work is a pivotal moment in the history of photography, which opened the medium to new possibilities and ways of expression. I also learned from their way of working as artists, which was extremely rigorous from both formal and conceptual point of view."

Can you describe for the readers how the contact with the city of Düsseldorf came about? Did the Lord Mayor's office call you itself?

I was among the candidates of Bernd & Hilla Becher promotional award, and Lord Mayor kindly called me to let me know that I received the award.

How did you experience the festival week? Did you have to work a lot or could you also enjoy the city?

The week was filled with different events and presentations around my artistic practice, which let me get in contact with the different people from the city's art scene. I had also some moments to enjoy the city and visiting the exhibitions.

You said that the Bernd and Hilla Becher school influenced your work. In what way do you mean that?

Becher's work is a pivotal moment in the history of photography, which opened the medium to new possibilities and ways of expression. I also learned from their way of working as artists, which was extremely rigorous from both formal and conceptual point of view.

And which other photographic school, photographer or artist influenced you in your studies?

My work is influenced by New Topographics photographers in an obvious way, but also many other artistic forms in regard how the form and concept of one's work could communicate an expression, a message or an experience.

Soleil of Persian Square Book ©Hannah Darabi

Enghelab Street Book ©Hannah Darabi

"I think photography was the medium very well suited to my character."

What were your stations like after you moved away from Tehran? What is life like in the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles?

I moved to Paris in 2007 and I'm leaving there since. Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles was for long time the biggest Iranian community outside the country. As an Iranian leaving abroad, you won't necessarily get in touch with the diaspora unless for the specific events like Iranian New Year or protests in solidarity with Iranian people inside. Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles is interesting to me because of the way how some people from this community with the same interest, gathered around and pursued their activities from there. In this regard I can give the example of the actors of Iranian popular music, who continued producing music for Iranian inside of the country from Los Angeles, and expanded the idea of Iranian cultural territory.

Now your centre of life is Paris? What is it like to live and work here as an artist?

Paris is cosmopolitan city which give me the opportunity to be confronted to other cultures every day. This experience enriches my artistic practice but also present a necessity of revisiting my own culture.

You don't have a website. Is this for security reasons?

The reason that I don't have a website is that I struggled for a while how I can truly introduce my work through a digital platform. I had websites before, but I wanted to improve them, and maybe it's time to make a new one.

What or who inspired you to take photographs?

When I was young, I was always interested in building a professional life around an artistic practice, I think photography was the medium very well suited to my character. I still enjoy how you can create a whole new world with a medium that seems to be this much attached to reality.

Enghelab Street Book ©Hannah Darabi