Instagram takeover: Sara Shamsavari

BPB16 exhibitor, Sara Shamsavari, takes over our Instagram account in the lead up to Brighton Photo Biennial 2016.

Sara Shamsavari is a British artist of Iranian heritage whose vibrant and emotive images explore and reinterpret identity and address current social and cultural concerns. While each photographic series has a distinct focus, together, they all seek to encourage the ideals of non-judgement, equality, unity in diversity and collective responsibility.

@sara_shamsavari here for the final day of my Instagram takeover. Here is my portrait of the beautiful and talented @rcallahanphoto author of #iamdandy and @thedandylionproject contributor here with her husband @kellfire. They are an amazing team!

A photo posted by Photoworks (@photoworks_uk) on Sep 11, 2016 at 10:08am PDT

Shamsavari’s work has been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, public and political spaces including the Museum of Contemporary Photography (Chicago), Museum of African Diaspora (San Francisco) Institute of Contemporary Art, City Hall and The Royal Festival Hall (London), Espace Pierre Cardin (Paris), Fondazione Biagiotti Progretto Arte (Florence) and Rush Arts Gallery (New York).

@sara_shamsavari here! Another favourite from #phillyveil portrait of Caché photographed in Philadelphia with none other than @thedandylionproject and #brightonbiennial2016 curator @apshantology looking forward to be reunited for #dandylion

A photo posted by Photoworks (@photoworks_uk) on Sep 11, 2016 at 11:03am PDT

Hi all @sara_shamsavari here. This portrait is from a series of mine entitled #britainretoldaportraitoflondon Anna and Cynthia Britain Retold- a portrait of London is an ongoing body of work which reveals individual perspectives on British identity and how it is perceived within one of the country’s most international, rapidly changing cities. I started shooting this series in 2009 and it has become even more relevant in recent days post brexit. The series reflects a range of viewpoints from diverse cultural backgrounds, and are brought together to form the series in an aim to create a singular voice. The series consists of intimate portraits that incorporate the symbolism of the Union Jack, which in these contexts presents both positive and negative connotations. The images are juxtaposed with statements, enabling the public to explore and challenge their past and current interpretations of what it is to be British. Britain Retold seeks to open a platform that allows the multi communities in London to begin redefining what it means to be British, moving toward being wholly inclusive and allowing new associations to exist alongside tradition.#britainretold #britishidentity #britain #london

A photo posted by Photoworks (@photoworks_uk) on Sep 11, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

With a commitment to education, Sara has delivered a number of artist talks internationally at cultural institutions including Tate Britain, Southbank Centre, MoCP and the Royal Institution of Great Britain as well guest lecturing at UAL, UCA, SOAS John Cabot (Rome) NYU ( Abu Dhabi) and Syracuse University.

@sara_shamsavari here for day 6 of my takeover! These are the beautiful @modestsistars part of my #londonveil series

A photo posted by Photoworks (@photoworks_uk) on Sep 10, 2016 at 11:43am PDT

Shamsavari’s work, exhibitions, and profile have been featured multiple times, across various media and publications including, BBC1, ITN, SKY1, New York Times, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Elle, i-D and Dazed & Confused.

With a belief that artists can be leaders in social and spiritual progress, Sara seeks to empower both participants and viewers with the endeavour to encourage a transformation in the way we view society and ourselves.