“When you read these stories, you realize that the storytelling wonder called ‘magical realism’ is actually very simple and attainable. Here people are telling stories about their own streets and cities, and their words are full of colors, scents, life, sorrow, simple miracles. The everyday tales of people who refuse to see the world stripped of its magic. Such as in the story of a young Cuban man who, while strolling down his childhood street, wants to shrink it, cut it out and put it in his pocket. These are personal Cuban stories, so natural, yet so magical. Words that open doors.” Georgi Gospodinov Writer, Sofia “My Street is a travelogue of sorts,a ‘road book’ reminiscent of classic road movies; it not only crisscrosses the island geographically, but also takes its pulse... My Street’s dynamism helps us enter realities that are as unknown asthey are simple, as hidden as they are ordinary.” Roberto Zurbano Torres Cultural Critic, Havana
Babak Salari Books
Babak Salari is a documentary photographer and cultural activist whose work delves into themes of double consciousness, marginality, and diasporic identity. His own experience as an outsider fosters a deep identification with his subjects, granting him access to often-hidden aspects of their lives. Salari's sensitive and probing lens captures both social tableaux and individual portraits across diverse global landscapes. His photography is acclaimed for its technical and artistic accomplishment, consistently focusing on vulnerable communities and the intimate textures of their daily existence.
