Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 227

“I can draw a lot of things. I can draw trees, the sun,...

“I can draw a lot of things. I can draw trees, the sun, clouds, my mom, and my dad. I once drew a picture of a house that was so good, I had to hide it so nobody would steal it.”

(Tehran, Iran)

“There’s a big contrast between my fantasies and my life. I...

“There’s a big contrast between my fantasies and my life. I use art to bridge the gap. I’m starting a new project where I’m covering nude bodies with paint and laying them on canvas. The naked body is very natural to me. It’s a matter of truth.”

(Tehran, Iran)

“My doctor told me to stop climbing mountains so now I...

“My doctor told me to stop climbing mountains so now I just climb the small ones.”

(Tehran, Iran)

“She’s from a very conservative family and she’s the only...

“She’s from a very conservative family and she’s the only daughter. So I’m trying to win her parents’ trust. We’re up to four hours a week together. As long as we tell her parents exactly where we’re going. And send photos once we get there. And get home before 9 pm. Always before 9 pm.”

(Tehran, Iran)

“I’m trying to be an artist, but my parents just don’t...

“I’m trying to be an artist, but my parents just don’t understand. I showed a painting to my mom, and I was like: ‘Do you like it?’
And she was like: ‘I guess, but why is there a cigarette? Are you smoking now?’
And I was like: ‘No, Mom. The cigarette represents pain.’
And she was like: ‘Did we not love you enough?’”

(Tehran, Iran)

“I want to be a cancer doctor. Because my mom has...

“I want to be a cancer doctor. Because my mom has cancer.”

(Tehran, Iran)

“Things are getting freer. Even a few years ago, I couldn’t...

“Things are getting freer. Even a few years ago, I couldn’t wear what I’m wearing now without inviting a rebuke. The scarves are getting brighter and looser. The sleeves are getting shorter. The laughter is getting louder. This is a very young country. More than half the population is under 30. Have you ever seen an Iranian child? They are the most mischievous children on the planet. If you want an Iranian child to do something– tell them not to do it. Tell them not to kiss. Tell them not to hold hands. Tell them to dress in black. Tell them not to use Facebook. This country is full of mischievous, curious Iranian children. And the people who make the rules are getting older. And just like the Iranian parent, they are getting exhausted.”

(Namakabroud, Iran)

“We first met in the bazaar. He owns a shop selling men’s...

“We first met in the bazaar. He owns a shop selling men’s suits. We saw each other, but my parents were with me at the time, so he couldn’t talk to me. But he managed to slip me his phone number. We began to talk, and eight months later I had to tell my parents that a guy who slipped me his phone number wanted to propose marriage. My father was upset. But my mother told him: ‘Calm down. It’s a new generation.’”

(Rasht, Iran)

“My mother died when I was two years old, so it’s just me and...

“My mother died when I was two years old, so it’s just me and my father. He’s been really angry with me lately. He’s always wanted me to be an engineer like him, but I switched my major to photography. He didn’t’ show any emotion when I told him. He always has a poker face. But I know that he’s angry from the little things. He never asks me to go shopping with him anymore. We used to go to the market together. He’d pick up a watermelon, inspect it, then would hand it to me for my opinion. It doesn’t sound like much but I really valued that time together. But once I changed my major, he stopped asking me to come along. But I think things are getting better. Recently I scored in the top 5th percentile on the University Entrance Exam for photography. When I told my father, he didn’t show any emotion. But the next day he asked me if I wanted to go shopping. And that made me so happy. Because it’s just the two of us. And I really, really, really, really love him.”

(Tehran, Iran)

“When she was first born, I hugged her, but she didn’t...

“When she was first born, I hugged her, but she didn’t cry. I thought: ‘Oh God, something’s wrong.’ But the nurses told me to hold on a second. And they cleared something from her throat. Then she started crying. Then I started crying. And for the first time I knew how it felt to be a mother.”

(Tehran, Iran)