The project “Neighbors” is a portrait series of women from the photographer’s immediate surroundings: the Exile Media Hub Brandenburg in the small village of Schmerwitz.

After her exhibition of queer nude photography from Iran and Turkey, the idea emerged to also photograph the women of the village and the surrounding region—and they were immediately enthusiastic. Conversation at first is difficult: the photographer does not come from their world, but from a country where women are oppressed and could never show themselves in this way. That is why she was forced to flee.

At the beginning, they are strangers to one another, but this quickly changes. During the photo sessions, the women spoke openly about love, life in the countryside, reunification, loss, hope, and the strength it takes to begin again later in life. All of this is clearly visible in the portraits.

Each portrait in Neighbors tells the story of a life and opens a window into a world full of work, dreams, and challenges. An almost magical relationship develops between the photographer from distant Iran, who is new to the area, and the local women.

Sareh has cast a small spell over the neighborhood. From the perspective of the Iranian artist, this project “does not merely create art, but makes a human connection tangible—across cultural, linguistic, and emotional boundaries.