Southern Winds

Following the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf, people began to reflect on their emotional and spiritual bond with the sea—a profound connection between water and the human body. Beyond geography, the sea is part of the collective memory of coastal communities, embodying a sense of freedom and liberation through its connection to open waters.

Although the Persian Gulf often appears in the background of family photographs, it is, in fact, the very setting for human presence and an inseparable part of people’s memory, lives, and identity—as if, over time, the sea itself has become a member of the family.

Over the years, I have travelled to the most remote islands of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, meeting people who carry the history and memory of these coastal lands. Sometimes, a single photograph is all that remains of them. This led me to search through the archives of the islands’ oldest photography studios, in an effort to find these images and uncover the stories hidden behind the faces.