Iranian, 1980
Hossein began his journey as a photographer at the age of 17, capturing political and social events in his native Iran. He went on to cover warfare in Lebanon and Georgia in 2006 and 2008 respectively before relocating to Afghanistan in 2009 to document the American military presence alongside the lives of Afghan people moving forward from decades of war. In 2013 he moved to the US where he developed the social, environmental, and political dimensions of his work. So far, his journey has led him through the landscapes and communities of Pakistan, Somalia, Armenia, Russia, Turkey, India, Kenya and Iraq.
Hossein’s work has been exhibited across the world – from Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) and the Visa Pour l’Image Festival in Perpignan to Chobi Mela, Asia’s premier international photography festival in Bangladesh. His photos have enjoyed an international distribution via features in the New York Times, Foreign Policy magazine, Time and Spiegel, among many others.
The Art of Photography Show in San Diego, USA awarded Hossein with a grant in 2013, adding to a résumé of honours from the China International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP), Pictures of the Year International (POYi) and DAYS Japan International Photojournalism Awards. The World Press Photo Foundation awarded Hossein with a Long-Term Projects award in 2017 for his continued coverage of Iranian society. He continues to explore sometimes fraught societal shifts with his subjects and his environment. He is currently based in New York.