Identity is not something absolute, especially when it can be shattered within seconds. On a calm Sunday afternoon my reality was forever altered. While riding a motorcycle down a major highway, my partner and I were struck by a vehicle at high speed. These images document my long-term recovery and make visible the unfamiliar anxiety, grief, and pain which become part of the daily routine in my fragile body. They also serve as a diary of survival and a reminder to have the courage to confront each day with more strength and resolve.
Yalda Pashai
Born in Iran 1988, I, Yalda Pashai, moved to Turkey as a refugee. Since refugee children were not allowed to further their education, I was left on my own to develop my own process based on my curiosity in the creative arts. At the age of 13 I moved to Canada, where my passion for photography and story telling rooted. I graduated with a BFA in Photography Studies from Ryerson University in 2011. I am best known for my work, Illumination, which examines modern Muslim homosexuals and their reconciliation between religion and sexuality. From 2013 I’ve been based in Toronto and working as a freelance photographer, after a long photo exploration in Europe and the Middle East. I have a constant thirst for knowledge and new experiences in photojournalism. Being fluent in English, Farsi, Azeri and Turkish, I understand the importance of culture and the effects that language barriers may have. These experiences have guided me to use photography as an influential tool in my endeavour to globally document all aspects of humanity.