The Unseen Empathy:
A queer connection to the more-than-human world
In the sterile concrete of our cities, who do we invite into our inner gardens? For a while, my own inner compass spun wildly, but as a photographer who shares my home with rescued animals, I’ve realized that finding true space means tearing down the artificial borders between us and the "more-than-human" world. Do you feel me?
This realization brought my lens to a profound smoking mirror: an American-Iranian activist and Paris-based queer actor & model known to the world as The Sharok. The Sharok walked away from a safe, expected path in science to embrace a life of unapologetic expression, often facing harsh stigma even within his own circles. But behind this bold public defiance lies Shahrokh, a second-generation immigrant whose deep roots in his Iranian heritage reveal a profound legacy of compassion. It is Shahrokh's unexpectedly tender bond with a rescued albino dove named Paloma that truly caught my heart. When I look at them, I don't just see a portrait; I see a beautiful reflection of our shared existence, a gentle reminder that we are all cosmic cousins.
Shahrokh’s bond with Paloma beautifully symbolizes the resilience of marginalized and queer communities. Pigeons, once deeply revered, are now frequently misunderstood as urban "pests" - a striking parallel to the ways society treats those it refuses to understand.
Tearing down the walls between us and nature
Society loves to draw strict lines around what is valuable and what is disposable. Pigeons and doves, creatures that were once deeply revered, are now routinely dismissed as urban "pests" simply because their utility to humans has faded. The parallel to the queer experience - the vibrant, resilient misfits celebrated through my photography - is undeniable. Shahrokh’s devoted care for Paloma stands as a powerful allegory for marginalized souls who survive and thrive in environments that often refuse to understand them.
“When I look at them, I don't just see a portrait, I see a beautiful reflection of our shared existence, a gentle reminder that we are all cosmic cousins.”
"The Unseen Empathy" is my personal invitation to you. It is a visual plea to recognize that we are all woven into the same grand tapestry, and that separating ourselves from nature is simply an illusion. Through Shahrokh and Paloma, we see that true intelligence and beauty often thrive in the very beings society chooses to overlook. To reclaim our empathy for these creatures is to reclaim a deeply beautiful part of ourselves. And now I ask you: Do you stand by me?
“Deeply rooted in his Iranian heritage, Shahrokh’s connection to pigeons is a testament to a shared legacy of compassion and respect for the natural world.”
