Newsha Tavakolian, a Magnum Photos member born in 1981 in Tehran, is an Iranian photographer, visual artist, and educator known for her work that captures the human condition. Tavakolian began her career in photography at a young age, eventually becoming a prominent figure in the field. Her photography is characterized by its evocative storytelling and her keen eye for capturing the delicate emotions that shape us as humans. She has covered a wide range of topics, from the challenges faced by women in Iran and worldwide to the aftermath of tensions in conflict zones. Her work often combines artistry with documentary, blurring the lines between reality and the imagined.
Throughout her career, Newsha Tavakolian has received numerous awards, such as the Carmignac Gestion Award, the Prince Claus Award (principal laureate), and several international photo prizes. Her photographs have been featured in prestigious exhibitions worldwide.
Zied Ben Romdhane, born in 1981 in Tunisia, shifted his focus to documentary photography in 2011. He published his first book, West of Life, in 2018 with Red Hook Editions. Ben Romdhane’s work is centered around his native Tunisia. He delves into the socio-political contrasts between inland regions and coastal areas, shedding light on how geography shapes these dynamics.
He won the World Press Photo Prize in 2024, was selected for the 6X6 Global Talent Program in 2018 by the World Press Photo Foundation, participated in the Joop Swart Masterclass with World Press Photo, and received the POPCAP award (Africa Image, Basel, 2015). Zied also contributed as the Director of Photography for Fallega (2011), a documentary film documenting the Arab Spring in Tunisia. Furthermore, he actively participated in World Press Photo’s 2013 Reporting Change initiative and was a member of the collectives “Rawiya” and “Native.” Zied Ben Romdhane joined Magnum as a nominee in 2019.
Since its creation in 1882, the Maupetit bookshop has expanded to reach its current sales area; in 2013, Maupetit opened a new establishment within the MuCEM (sold in 2021), and two ephemeral bookshops when Marseille became European Capital of Culture. An exhibition room, Maupetit - Côté Galerie, dedicated to photography, opens on the 1st floor of 142, once again affirming Maupetit's ambition to play an active role in Marseille's cultural life.
Today, with a staff of 25, the bookshop organizes numerous events, workshops and meetings. The oldest bookshop in Marseille, the Maupetit bookshop has become one of the city's key cultural venues.
