Ayyam Gallery is pleased to present our yearly summer collective exhibition, featuring works by Ammar al-Beik, Sama Alshaibi, Huda Baydoun, Majid Koorang Beheshti, Ammar Abd Rabbo, Faisal Samra, Rula Halawani, Nassouh Zaghlouleh, and Tammam Azzam.
Stemming from the Greek language, Photography literally means ‘drawing with light’. With its advent in the 19th century, photography initially served utilitarian purposes, such as documentation and scientific inquiry. However, as its technical capabilities expanded, so too did its artistic potential. The medium has played a profound and multifaceted role in the trajectory of art history, reshaping artistic practices and cultural expressions. Its significance lies in its ability to immortalize moments.
Moments: the quintessence of the human experience.
Each click captures a moment suspended in time, insinuating the photographer’s vision and interpretation. Through composition, lighting, and subject matter, photography transforms into a visual dialogue; the camera can become a tool for transcending the boundaries of reality. The significance of these moments lies not only in their temporal essence but also in the enduring imprint they leave on our collective consciousness.
Photographs crystallize ephemeral instances of joy and fulfillment, etching memories into the fabric of our being, serving as poignant reminders of life’s beauty and optimism, the tapestry of existence; and encouraging unison celebration of the inherent goodness of humanity. Conversely, through the lens of photography, steeped in adversity, anguish, and turmoil, depict the raw authenticity of human experience, illuminating the shadows that lurk beneath the veneer of everyday life; poignant reminders of our shared vulnerabilities and disparity of power.
In the realm of visual storytelling, despite their inherent discomfort, these moments bear witness to the resilience and fortitude that define us as individuals.
In essence, moments in photography transcends mere documentation; it encapsulates the multifaceted human existence, a testament to the complexity of global affairs.
Photography has played a crucial role in documenting the region’s diverse landscape, architecture, and people, capturing moments of both continuity and change. Rula Halawani demonstrates this in the For My Father series, in which details the Israeli occupation of Palestine from the vantage point of fading recollection.
Often alluding to sociopolitical issues, Al-Beik’s works are inspired by the details of his surroundings as he seeks to reveal the complexities of human relationships, offering nuanced perspectives, tracing the ebbs and flows, and distilling the essence of these dynamics into a single frame.
Sama Alshaibi, examines connections between different cultures that are under threat of displacement, the recognition of geological interconnectedness and human interdependence.
Middle Eastern photographers have increasingly engaged with conceptual and experimental approaches, pushing the boundaries of the medium and exploring themes of memory, identity, and belonging.
Artists such as Faisal Samra, have gained international acclaim for their innovative work, which combines elements of photography, performance to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences; broadening the global photographic landscape.
The formal aspects of photography include editing and fabrication. Huda Beydoun’s monochromatic landscape photography features an overlayed silhouette of Mickey Mouse.The iconography, compositions, and use of colour address social allegories, themes of anonymity, and immigration. In her captured moments, Beydoun fashions literal layers of interpretation.
In all, Photography’s diversity and significance in capturing moments is profound, serving as an essence of life’s pivotal instants; through the lens of a camera, the intangible becomes tangible, the transient becomes eternal.
Press release from Ayyam Gallery
Image: Sama Alshaibi. Sketch 14 from Negative Capable Hands series. 2010. Archival print. 51 x 73.5 cm. Image courtesy of the artist
