About two years ago, Italian photographer Matteo Lonardi traveled to Tehran as part of a project called “Reframe Iran.” His goal was to portray Iran away from “the news headlines” and “politics” by using virtual reality (VR) webcams from inside the studios of Iranian artists. But one wonders how well known this new technology is inside Iran and how often is it used.

Many of the artists who participated in Lonardi’s project are actually not very familiar with the technology. Hooman Mortazavi, an Iranian graphic designer and painter who took part in “Reframe Iran,” told Al-Monitor, “I think we have to wait another 10 to 15 years before witnessing the production of a serious and grounded work of virtual reality inside Iran. Here, digital communications, facilities and outputs are a novelty.”

Mortazavi has won awards for his work — including several from the Graphic Biennial of Tehran — and mainly works as a digital media consultant. Yet he told Al-Monitor, “I don’t have a project that I can categorize as digital media. Interestingly enough, I lean more toward primitive technology. In a country where personal and group communications are considered security issues, a country 40 years behind when it comes to up-to-date technology, a country that engages in content filtering … doing digital work is pointless.”
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This article was written by Zahra Alipour for Al-Monitor on June 7, 2016. Zahra Alipour is an Iranian journalist based in Paris who focuses on cultural affairs. She has reported for several leading Iranian media outlets.