I'd Like to Thank My Ancestors (2021)
The video playing behind me is an edit I created back when I visited Iran in summer of 2019, a time where I was able to fully reconnect with my roots. As I’ve finally tackled the pressures of assimilation and internalized racism, this piece serves as a homage to my Iranian identity. Growing up in the ballet world especially, I’ve felt isolated because I rarely saw people who looked like me and I was the only brown girl in most of my classes. This piece allowed me to become the representation I never had, as well as becoming the star of my own show, while embracing my cultural background simultaneously.
Femininity (2021)
Through this project, I aimed to highlight how gender expression does not always have to correlate with gender identity. The lens of femininity takes on many different forms, and I wanted to explore that through the people around me. This was one of the first projects where I took on the role of a creative director. I created mood boards to plan for each look, styled each person, photographed, filmed, edited, and created music. My overall aim was to bring each vision of femininity to life, while still remaining authentic to my friends’ personal style.
Iran (2019)