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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Maman Simin, 2023

Ali Tahayori

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist

UV print on glass, hand-cut glass, silicone on aluminium (frame: 33.7cm x 25.6cm depth 5.0cm)
Maman Simin, 2023

Ali Tahayori
born Iran 1980, Australia from 2007

Maman Simin 2023
UV print on glass, hand-cut glass, silicone on aluminium

‘This is my grandmother, Maman Simin. She died recently, and this is the last photograph I took of her before she passed away. The portrait is not only an image of my maternal grandmother but also represents her as a personification of the nurturing and life-giving Mother Earth, the homeland, and all our ancestors. Looking at the image, I am reassured that she is in a good place, resting in the infinity, while praying for her children. The photograph was printed on clear glass, then broken by hand, and reassembled to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.’

Iranian-born artist Ali Tahayori lives and works on Gadigal Land in Sydney. Tahayori uses archival materials, narrative fragments and performative approaches to explore themes of identity, home and belonging, drawing on ancient Iranian philosophies about light and mirrors.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024

Voting closes Sunday 29 September 2024.

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National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024
(More information, View all 34 photos)

Arlen spinning?
Ngapartji–Ngapartji
Where does your body end and mine begin?
‘Aishah!’ Self-portrait with my mother. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Related information

Alexis with moon, 2024 Amos Gebhardt
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Alexis with moon, 2024 Amos Gebhardt
Alexis with moon, 2024 Amos Gebhardt

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024

Current exhibition

from Saturday 22 June

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 celebrates established and emerging artistic talent from across the country.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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