Since then, she has gone on to achieve worldwide recognition and many other awards and honors. Alserkal avenue, unit d36, street 8, al quoz 1 po box 62111. She was born in worcestershire, england and grew up between saudi arabia and egypt. Laura eltantawys newest book, in the shadow of the pyramids, might appear to be a straightup exploration of the 2011 egyptian revolution, but when asked to describe the project, she finds it. Born in worcestershire, uk, she studied in egypt, saudi arabia, the us and in the uk. Photos to books to art objects, laura eltantawys a star. As photobook titles go, beyond here is nothing is among the more bleakly pessimistic names that i have encountered in recent years. Laura eltantawy is an egyptian photographer living between cairo and london. On the 15 th of january i had the opportunity to attend a talk by egyptian photographer, laura eltantawy, hosted by gulf photo plus in conjunction with vii photo agency about laura eltantawy. To be home is to feel a strong connection to a land and a grounding to its roots. In 2002, she started her career as a newspaper photographer in the usa. Apr 10, 2020 eltantawys aptly named in the shadow of the pyramids, narrates life under an oppressive totalitarian regime, one whose dark shadow had long been cast over the egyptian people, plunging them into the very tangible darkness of corruption, economic degradation, social divide and political upheaval. For much of my life home has been an abstract place far away from my reach. The parallel state showed at les rencontres darles 2017 and will be published as a book by gost in 2018.
Laura eltantawy the people, self published, 2015, london. Beyond here is nothing is a photographic meditation on the notion of home. Laura eltantawy was born in england to egyptian parents and grew up. In the shadow of the pyramids was selfpublished last year. Laura eltantawy is an egyptian photographer based in london and cairo. A star in the sea is an artistic contemplation on embracing the unexpected. Eltantawys aptly named in the shadow of the pyramids, narrates life under an oppressive totalitarian regime, one whose dark shadow had long been cast over the egyptian people, plunging them into the very tangible darkness of corruption, economic degradation, social divide and political upheaval. Laura eltantawy in the shadow of the pyramids, self published. Laura eltantawy published on the anniversary of the revolution, her diary is that of all who fought it those who, lost in the middle of the book as they were in the middle of the agitated crowd, eltantawy captures, from closeup, their fists against their lips, their. Her personal experience growing up in contrasting cultures is the window to an intimate and. She was born in worcestershire, england and studied in saudi arabia, us and uk. A love story, my first and only trip to my place of birth in the uk and a vision on a beach in sicily. Rahaab allana on laura eltantawy in the shadow of the.
Born in the uk to egyptian parents, eltantawy has spent much of her life between cultures, living in england, and america and holidaying in egypt. His latest novel is savage joy, inspired by his first years in nyc and working at the new yorker magazine. Partly supported by burn magazine and a crowdfunding campaign, it is. Laura eltantawy photographer artful book maker mentor. In 2015 eltantawy selfpublished her first book, in the shadow of the pyramids.
Published in a newspaper format and narrated by the people, eltantawys second publication aims to preserve and celebrate the vanishing memory of one of the most historically relevant chapters in modernday egypts story. This body of work navigates the boundaries of being exploring the unsettling feeling of rootlessness, the mental burden of loneliness and the constant search for. In the shadow of the pyramids signed photobook laura eltantawy. In 2006, she became freelance so she could focus on pursuing personal projects. Postscript revisits laura eltantawys journey through cairos iconic tahrir square five years from egypts momentous revolution and one year after the release of her selfpublished monograph, in the shadow of the pyramids. We enter laura eltantawy s book through the tiny door, after swallowing the bitter potion of history. Laura answers members questions about her latest book in the shadow of the pyramids. Beyond here is nothing by laura eltantawy tipi photo bookshop. Laura eltantawy is a britishegyptian documentary photographer, book maker and mentor. Laura eltantawy born 1980 is an egyptian photographer based in london and cairo.
Open it up and all the demons of loneliness are set loose to haunt the reader, confronting him or her with their own feelings of not belonging, but also with the beauty of it. But she returned in a critical moment of egypts history, when the country was in the political turmoil that eventually led to the 2011 revolution and the fall of mubarak. Laura eltantawy beyond here is nothing is a photobook object meditating on home. Laura graduated from the university of georgia in athens, ga, in 2002 with dual degrees in journalism and political science and began working as a newspaper photographer.
We first discovered laura eltantawys work when she entered the lensculture exposure awards 2011 where she won an honorable mention. New book by laura eltantawy captures the impact of the egyptian revolution on daily life. Laura eltantawy was born in england to egyptian parents and grew up between saudi arabia, egypt and the us. A compact yet densely designed book that alternates between full. The cover of laura eltantawys newest book offers these ominous words placed across the image of a narrow vertical crack in a rich red curtain, with a tiny sliver of bright light peeking through. Published in a newspaper format and narrated by the people, eltantawy aims to preserve and celebrate the vanishing memory of one of the most historically relevant chapters in modernday egypts story. The photographs, text and title are inspired by three personal life events. She works as a freelance news photographer and on personal projects one of her publications, in the shadow of the pyramids 2015, gained her the shortlist for the deutsche borse photography prize. Robert dunn is a writer, photographer, and teacher. Eltantawy worked as a newspaper photographer with the milwaukee journal sentinel and.
More than four years on, the people chronicles how citizens in the arab worlds largest nation fought for social and economic change in the. Eltantawy is an egyptian photographer living between cairo and london. Laura eltantawy in the shadow of pyramids hardcover edition 500 numbered copies signed. Looking for home, for the place where she belongs has come to define the visual language of photographer laura eltantawy. She was born in worcestershire, england to egyptian parents. Jan 26, 2015 laura eltantawys newest book, in the shadow of the pyramids, might appear to be a straightup exploration of the 2011 egyptian revolution, but when asked to describe the project, she finds it. In the shadow of the pyramids photographs and text. As in a dream, the almost illegible images of the first pages gradually become clear as we pass from a small format to doublepage spreads which draw the reader into the whirlwind that has devastated egypt over the past ten years. Open it up and all the demons of loneliness are set loose to haunt the reader, confronting him or her with their own feelings of. Laura eltantawy beyond here is nothinggrowing up without a fixed place to call home, laura eltantawy struggled with a fractured identity. Laura eltantawy is britishegyptian award winning photographer, artful book maker, mentor and writer.
Laura eltantawy is a britishegyptian photographer spending her time between london and cairo. Juxtaposing the innocence of the past with the obscurity of the present, the book is an experience, edited to look like a one nights encounter. Laura eltantawy, beyond here is nothing collector daily. See more ideas about photography, tahrir square and photo blend. Where some might attribute some level of promise or hope to what potentially lies beyond the confines of that curtain, eltantawys title makes. Syb self published edition of 500 signed and numbered dimensions. In the shadow of the pyramids by laura eltantawy tipi.
Laura eltantawy independent photographer, videographer. Rahaab allana on laura eltantawy in the shadow of the pyramids. I began to explore the essence of egyptian identity in the hope of coming to terms with my own. This visual laboratory takes place throughout the year.
She attended high school in saudi arabia, started university in cairo, egypt and completed her degree in the us. Laura eltantawy was born in worcestershire, england and grew up between cairo, egypt and dammam, saudi arabia. Her photography is inspired by questions on her identity exploring social and environmental issues pertaining to her background. A photobook is most immersive when it arouses an awakening in the readerand in the shadow of the pyramids, laura eltantawys instinctive, fouryear journey through the crowd at cairos tahrir square, is a riveting, intimate, and spatially engaging testimony. In part 1 of this piece on laura eltantawys work, i quoted her as saying, trying not to repeat myself, every project deserves its own visual language. It is a reflection of egypt through my own eyes, guided by childhood memories and a struggle to understand who i am and where i belong.
Dont miss my updates and news on photobooks register for free or follow my updates on the virtual bookshelf. Beyond here is nothing signed photobook laura eltantawy. A compact yet densely designed book that alternates between fullbleed images and smaller photos centered on the page, it. She graduated from the university of georgia in athens, ga usa with a dual degree in journalism and political science, worked as a staff photographer with the milwaukee journal sentinel in milwaukee and the sarasota heraldtribune.
Laura eltantawy in the shadow of the pyramids, self. She was born in worcestershire, england to egyptian parents and grew up between egypt, saudi arabia and the us. This pocketsized publication features previously unpublished images and written reflections where eltantawy. Her first book, in the shadow of the pyramids, was released on january 25, 2015. Her work has been exhibited internationally and appeared in various publications worldwide, including time magazine, the sunday times.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Photos to books to art objects, laura eltantawys a star in. There is a limit to 6 participants to make sure each participant gets my full attention and everyone enjoys the experience and finds it beneficial. Eltantawy happened to be visiting family in egypt at the start of the events which eventually brought on the egyptian revolution. What that language will be and how i will consistently apply it across a body of work so it feels cohesive is always a challengeand i added, not simply a challenge for her but for us. Beyond here is nothing by laura eltantawy tipi photo. Laura eltantawy is an egyptian photographer, writer and experimental filmmaker.