Aria Shahrokhshahi: BOP 26 ARTIST TALK

Photographer Aria Shahrokhshahi will deliver a talk at BOP 26 on his new photobook, Wet Ground, published by Loose Joints, 2026. In this contemporary body of social documentary photography made on the frontlines of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Aria explores the slippery terrain of Ukrainian identity, developed through repeated stays living and volunteering in Ukraine since 2019. The work has a recurring focus on youth and subculture finding ways to survive and thrive, reflecting the radical and improvised paths life in Ukraine takes in the present moment. The publication lingers in the spaces around conflict, where threat, loss and anticipation shape the daily existence of a generation of young Ukrainian men and women, as they continue to carve out moments of resistance, rebellion and joy. The book's title - Wet Ground - links Shahrokhshahi's survival of a rocket strike while assisting in a medical evacuation of civilians from a frontline town, where wet ground prevented the detonation of a missile. Aria will give an overview of this work, sharing his experience alongside many images from Wet Ground. The talk will be followed by questions from the floor and a book signing.