Photography, Race and Slavery: African Sitters of Qajar Era Iran

Curated by Dr Pedram Khosronejad (Western Sydney University), this exhibition traces the unexplored history of African slaves in Iran during the Qajar dynasty and looks at the unique relationship between photography and slavery in Iran from the 1840s to the 1930s.

When:
23 September - 14 November 2019
 

Where:
Level 5 Main Library
 

Partner:
Dr Pedram Khosronejad

The photographs in this exhibition are drawn from government and personal archives throughout Iran, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Photography, Race and Slavery: African Sitters of Qajar Era Iran is the first exhibition organised in Australia that traces the history of Africans enslaved in Iran using photographs of the Qajar (1796-1925) and early Pahlavi periods (1925-1979).

This exhibition is presented as part of the UNSW Library Exhibitions Program and the Silk Roads @ UNSW Research Network Seminar Series in collaboration with the Religion and Society Cluster of Western Sydney University.

Accessibility: UNSW Library is wheelchair accessible.

Exhibition text

See the exhibition catalogue for essays and the list of works featured.

Exhibition image gallery
Photography, Race and Slavery

Photography, Race and Slavery Installation 1

Photography, Race and Slavery

Photography, Race and Slavery Installation 2

Two people look at a series of framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery Installation 3

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 1

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 2

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 3

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 4

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 5

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 6

A room of people looking at framed photographs hanging on a wall

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night crowd viewing installation 7

Photography, Race and Slavery Exhibition - Opening night speech

Photography, Race and Slavery - Opening night speech

Photography, Race and Slavery Opening night speech from Professor Timothy O'Leary

Photography, Race and Slavery - Crowd watching opening night speaker Professor Timothy O'Leary

Photography, Race and Slavery

Photography, Race and Slavery - Professor Timothy O'Leary and Scientia Professor Louise Edwards standing in front of installation

Past events from this exhibition

Opening event

Photography, Race and Slavery: African Sitters of Qajar Era Iran was opened by Professor Timothy O'Leary, Dr Ayshe Eli, and Scientia Professor Louise Edwards. Dr Pedram Khosronejad delivered an opening night seminar.

Event was held on Wednesday, 25 September 2019.