Nazanin Hafez (born in 1991 in Shiraz, Iran) is a visual artist based in Iran and Germany. In her artistic practice, she critically engages with social and political injustices, particularly focusing on the impacts of the repressive regime in Iran. Her current work explores the boundaries of depicting scenes of violence and their actors and victims, always striving for an empathetic and dignified approach to the painful subject matter. She employs various mediums, from photography and collage to video and installations.
Educational Background
Currently Meisterschülerin (Prof. Judith Samen), Academy of Fine Arts Mainz
2022 – 2024 Postgraduate studies in Fine Art (Prof. Parastou Forouhar), Academy of Fine Arts Mainz, Germany
2017 – 2022 B.A. Media Art and Design (Prof. Eric Lanz), Saar College of Fine Arts, Saarbrücken, Germany
2009 – 2013 B.Sc. Software Engineering, Dr. Shariaty Technical College, Tehran
Awards and Scholarships
2024
-Wüstenrot Foundation Scholarship for Photography (Dokumentarfotografie Förderpreis der Wüstenrot Stiftung)
-Prix de la Photographie, Clervaux Cité de l’image, Winner
2023
-Felix Schoeller Photo Award, Best Emerging Photographer, Nominee
-POY Asia Award, Photographer of the year Asia, Award of Excellence
-KHS Mainz Rundgangspreis Fotografie Ateliers im Delta
2022
-BarTur Photo Award, Student Prize for Climate Change, Winner
-Ann Lesley BarTur Award, Student Prize, Highly Commended
-Barcelona Human Rights International Photo Festival- Finalist
-SaarART 2023
-Münzenberg Forum’s Art Competition, Collage Competition, Winner
2021
-Saarland Scholarship for International Students (DAAD Graduation Grant)
2020
-Deutschlandstipendium
Exhibitions
2024
-RAY Triennial of Photography, Museum for applied Arts (MAK), Frankfurt (ongoing until 01.Sep)
-Hellerau Photography Award, Museum of Science and Technology, Dresden (Vernissage: 29.Aug)
-Prix de la Photographie, Montée du Château Clervaux, Luxembourg
-Chugye University for the Arts, Seoul
-World Biennial of Student Photography, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, Serbia
-SaarArt 2023, Modern Gallery of Saarland Museum, Saarbrücken, Germany
2023
-Earth Photo Award, Traveling Exhibition, England
-Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei, Leipzig, Germany
-BarTur Photo Award, Instytut Fotografii Fort, Warschau
-Felix Scholler Photo Award, Museumsquartier Osnabrück, Germany
-World Water Day Photo Contest, Traveling Exhibition, Italy
-Bartur Photo Award, Freiraum für Fotografie(f3), Berlin
2022
–Barcelona Human Rights International Photo Festival, Barcelona
–Münzenberg Forum’s Art Competition, Verlagsgebäude Neues Deutschland, Berlin
-Deutsch-Französischer Garten, Saarbrücken, Germany
Mentorships / Professional Developments
2024
-RAY-Triennale Masterclass, Mentor: Anton Kusters
2023
-Canon Student Development Programme(Module 1 and 2), Mentor: Jerome Sessini
Publikations / Press / Artist Talk
– Enge Verbundenheit mit der Welt/ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)/ Katharina Deschka / Frankfurt / 6 June 2024
–Lumières sur de nouveaux regards: Prix de la photographie à Clervaux / Tageblatt / Luxembourg / May 2024
–Soft Proof / Exhibition Catalogue / RAY Triennial / MAK Frankfurt / 2024
–Wie man als Künstler überlebt, … / Interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) / Frankfurt / 28 April 2024
–Prix de la Photographie, Clervaux Cité de l’image / Exhibition Catalogue / Clervaux / Luxembourg / 2024
–Nazanin Hafez: SaarArt 2023 / Interview with SR / Conducted by: Harriet Weber Schäfer / ARD Mediathek / May 2023
–Women Life Freedom : Panel Discussion with Iranian Artists / Conducted by: Dr. Andrea Jahn / Modern Gallery of
Saarland Museum / July 2023
–SaarART 2023: AU RENDEZ VOUS DES AMIS / Exhibition Catalogue / Saarbrücken / 2023
–Fratzen der Unmenschlichkeit / Saar-Art.de / 2023
–Landesausstellung als Versuchsballon / By Tobias Kessler / Saarbrücker Zeitung / Saarbrücken / 28 Juni 2022