Sadegh Tirafkan, a contemporary photographer, was born in Iraq and relocated to Iran with his family at the age of eight due to political pressures. His innovative approach to photography, coupled with his use of ancillary mediums and trans-photographic techniques, has positioned him as a leading conceptual artist.

Tirafkan initially pursued a career in theater and cinema. Active during the Eight-Year War, he performed in unconventional venues such as mosques and government buildings, and also created short films. His experience in theater, where multimedia demands and stage design played crucial roles, profoundly influenced his future photographic endeavors. Upon moving to Tehran, he enrolled at the Faculty of Fine Arts, graduating in photography in 1990.

His theatrical background continued to shape his artistic vision, distinguishing his work from traditional photography. Tirafkan's artworks often feature theatrical elements in the narrative of his characters, their photographic compositions, and the framing of scenes. Dissatisfied with photography merely as a tool for objective documentation, he sought to transcend flat imagery into multidimensional and spatial experiences through the use of collages and environmental art installations.

Initially, Tirafkan's distinct style faced challenges gaining recognition in the domestic art scene, which favored more conventional forms. However, his perseverance paid off as his artworks gained international acclaim through numerous group and solo exhibitions worldwide. His pieces are housed in esteemed art institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran.

Ruyin Pakbaz observes that Tirafkan's early works in the 1990s already exhibited a unique style characterized by themes of masculinity, Iranian history, and religious and traditional rituals. Masculinity, in particular, emerges as a central motif in his art, explored through stage setups, Persian motifs, calligraphy, digital manipulation, and meticulous photo arrangements.