VAHID VALIKHANI

Artist Statement

I photograph people-less landscapes and cityscapes, pairing them with diverse portraits I've taken—of Iranian immigrants, Americans of various racial backgrounds, and people who have never been to the U.S. This arrangement invites viewers to create their own stories and connections, offering a broader understanding of human conditions and challenging initial perceptions.
In my project, landscapes and portraits are arranged in a constellation-like pattern. This segment of the larger installation guides viewers to contemplate the relationships between the images, addressing the experiences of different races in the U.S. and the complex relationship between Iran and America. In light of the travel bans that prevented many Iranians, including my parents, from entering the U.S., this work symbolically counters that denied entry, imaginatively placing these bodies within American landscapes and cityscapes.