The girls show solidarity with other women in Iran these days, who seek freedom and the right to live comfortably. © Forough Alaei

Underneath the Calm Streets of Iran

Forough Alaei

2022-2025 — Iran

About this series

Forough Alaei employs vibrant imagery to highlight acts of quiet rebellion and the power of change in Iran. Since the violent death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, a new generation of Iranian women has raised its voice. In her series Underneath the Calm Streets of Iran, Alaei documents women breaking free from societal constraints and inspiring others. Whether as a dancer, a motorcycle racer, or a car mechanic, her protagonists challenge social norms and actively shape change.
Alaei’s visual aesthetic is defined by bold colors, bright light, and intense contrasts – a visual language that underscores the rebellious spirit and forward- thinking attitude of these women. Her work reveals that change does not always emerge through great revolutions but often begins in small, courageous steps taken by individuals. By breaking taboos and pushing boundaries, these small acts contribute to a broader movement, instilling hope for a new generation.  (Anahita Contemporary, Berlin DE – until April 26th)

© Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei
Hasti Rezaei,17, is the youngest female motocross rider in Iran. She began riding at the age of nine, was the female motocross champion of Iran in 2021-2022, and has been a national and regional motocross champion several times. Hasti goes to the track every weekend. “Some believe that it is a masculine sport and it is dangerous for women," she says. "They ask me, ‘Aren't you afraid? What if you got injured?’” Injury is only part of the risk. Though women can drive cars in Iran, it is illegal to have a motorcycle license in cities. © Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei
© Forough Alaei

Photographer: Forough Alaei
Nationality: Iranian
Based in: Iran
Instagram: @foroughalaei

Forough Alaei was born in 1989 in Iran, where she studied law. She was also a keen painter. Forough started photography in 2015 and became a photojournalist. In a short time, she became fond of documentary photography and filmmaking. Based on her background, she works mainly on social matters with a focus on Iranian women. She’s known globally for her stories on female football fans, where she also disguised herself as a boy to enter the stadium like the fans as it was forbidden for women to enter the stadium for men matches, and the Time magazine’s “Heroes of the Year” Cover about the “woman, life, freedom” movement in Iran in 2022. Also, she tries to show a different view of Iranian youth lifestyles and how they have broken the taboos of their elder generations. This long-term project was shown in many major media and exhibitions with the name of “New Face of Iran” or “Iran’s New Generation”.
Forough won three first prizes in 2019 for her work on Iranian female football fans including World Press Photo, POYi (multimedia), and Istanbul Photo Awards. Forough won Getty Images’ Editorial Grants in 2020. She also had some solo and group exhibitions in different countries such as Switzerland, Germany, France, and the US during 2021-2023. Her works have been published in different media such as Time, The New Yorker, The Guardian, Paris Match, Le Monde, Foreign Policy, Marie Claire, NZZ Newspaper, Amnesty International, Refinery29, De Volkskrant, Zeit and others.