Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashkan Roayaee.
Ashkan, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in a country that had a rich and a beautiful culture yet very restricted, I mean even street photography -Iran. For college, I decided to move to Turkey where the artists had freedom and a more liberal life. And, that became my adventure of self-discovery. During college, while studying pre-med, I started researching photography and could only get engaged with life by reading about it. Later, I found out that this distraction was actually a calling. I decided to take a break from school, and travel with a good friend and another companion with a 35mm film camera. We traveled to many of the Eastern European countries. I began to understand that photography was a beautiful way to communicate -how I felt, and how other people felt were sitting in my hands. Photography could be that universal language helping me to communicate the world.
When I am behind the lens, I am very grounded and free. I enjoy every moment and take all the surroundings in. It is so fascinating how much you can convey through your pictures. As I always say, “I capture a moment in time because the universe will inevitably change all, and that moment will be lost sooner or later if it is not captured.”
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
After Hurricane Harvey, I felt that I was now more connected to Houston and all the residents. We all experienced a tragedy that was a once in a lifetime natural disaster. I wanted to create something spiritual and healing for the city that I now call home. I decided to pair up with artists, specifically dancers to combine the arts and create motivation and energy. Something this city has but which was suppressed after the Hurricane, and which I wanted to help revive through my lens. I want to give positivity and inspiration to all who view my photos. I photograph the dancers in the middle of downtown Houston during rush hour to show that even amongst the chaos of rush hour beauty can still conquer a piece of that.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think thanks to the Internet (social media) that an artist has the biggest and best outlet to have their artistry viewed and to touch many with their work. I think that made the life for an artist a little less complicated in that sense but not necessarily easier. I think what you guys are doing by reaching out and doing interviews to spotlight local artist is one of the best ways to get the word out and acknowledge artists.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently, it is still a work in progress, and we are planning in the future for exhibitions and public shows, but until then people can view my website, www.ashkanroayaee.com and my Instagram page @ashkanimage I will be posting about my exhibitions as soon as we finalize the details.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashkanroayaee.com
- Phone: 7134447219
- Email: info@ashkanroayaee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashkanimage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashkanimage/
Image Credit:
Ashkan Roayaee
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