🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #70 of The Urbanaut Podcast, presented in collaboration with Urbanautica.com. In this compelling episode, we journey into the richly layered world of Iranian artist-photographer Alireza Malekian. From early experiments in visual communication to his long-term project Defamiliarizing Iran, Alireza invites us to question what a photograph can be—and how it shapes, and is shaped by, the landscapes and cultures it captures.

About Our Guest: Alireza Malekian

Born in Mashhad, Iran, and based in Tehran, Alireza Malekian is a visual artist, researcher, and writer whose work interrogates the intersection of urban environment, cultural identity, and photographic language. A graduate in Illustration with deep roots in graphic design and poetry, Alireza has become known for his conceptual approach to photography—merging experimental technique with documentary intention. His work explores the psychological and political layers of place, often transforming everyday cityscapes into complex visual inquiries. Through projects like Defamiliarizing Iranand Phantom Tehran, he challenges both Western perceptions and internal cultural clichés.

Tune in to this episode to:

- Explore how personal history, displacement, and memory influence visual storytelling.

- Learn about Defamiliarizing Iran, a powerful long-term series that blends manipulation, ambiguity, and visual sequencing.

- Discover how photography can become a tool for both civic engagement and existential reflection.

- Understand Alireza’s deep commitment to honesty, representation, and the evolving role of the artist.

EPISODE LINKS:

Alireza’s Website: www.alirezamalekian.com | Instagram: @alireza.malekian

CHAPTERS

0:00 – Coming Up...

2:15 – Welcome & Recording from Iran

3:08 – Alireza’s Background and Artistic Roots

5:33 – Graphic Design, Poetry, and Early Experiments

7:04 – Why Photography Became His Medium

10:10 – Photography as a Way to Explore Urban Life

12:25 – Learning Through Books, Not Institutions

16:06 – Childhood, Memory, and Attraction to Landscapes

18:33 – Developing a Personal Voice and Artistic Questioning

22:22 – Challenging Stereotypes and Defamiliarizing Iran

25:55 – Artistic Influences: Persian Miniatures to Kiarostami

30:23 – Creating Early Series and Methodical Approaches

38:00 – Photography as a Tool for Belonging

40:41 – The Philosophy and Process Behind Defamiliarizing Iran

52:12 – On Visual Ethics and Representing Truthfully

1:06:42 – Grief and Transformation in Bleed, Despair, Solas

1:16:27 – Long-term Narratives in As I Walked Within

1:24:45 – New Work: Phantom Tehran and Cultural Complexity

1:44:49 – Becoming Participant vs. Observer

1:53:24 – Advice on Artistic Growth and Taking Criticism

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