I accompanied Mana like a shadow in every place and space. During secret concerts at her friends’ homes, when a director wanted to make a documentary about her life, and in moments when she longed to embrace the harp and play it with her delicate fingers. I always walked beside her in the streets, seeing her; she loved to wear her feminine clothes even on the streets but always concealed her beautiful face under a mask or in men’s clothing. The only boundary that brought Mana closer to the role she wished to play in her life was acting in theater and modeling.
For me, Mana is an unparalleled friend and an artist filled with beauty, kindness, talent, and passion. She always dreamed of one day singing and playing on stage, but societal limitations turned this desire into a longing. The Mana series is the result of two years (2019-2021) spent alongside Mana, observing her with my childlike curiosity. All photographs in this digital collection were taken in Tehran, Iran.
