Artist name: Rehab Eldali

Nominated by: Peggy Sue Amison (Artistic Director for East Wing, Doha, Qatar ; Curator)

Country: Egypt

Edition: 1 of 1

Collection

Introducing 'Ones To Watch 2021' - the first drop from Art3.io, a brand new platform bringing the best lens-based art to the metaverse. For the first time, exclusively on OpenSea, Art3 presents a curated selection of 80 works from 16 emerging artists tipped to be among the greatest fine art photographers of tomorrow. The works will be sold as unique NFT editions of one, with exclusive unlockable content for collectors.

Unlockable content with purchase of this NFT

High resolution file

[First time buyer only] Single-use right to archive quality physical print (printed & delivered free of charge)

Invitation to exclusive virtual meeting with the artist

Project statement

This collection is part of a long term personal project called The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken. In this project I reconnect to my roots and explore the process of finding and seeking the meaning of belonging cited through the Bedouin community of St. Catherine in South Sinai, Egypt. This is a journey to attempt to understand the layers of an identity and the interconnectedness between people and land which defines the notion of belonging.

Artist statement

I’m a visual storyteller whose work focuses on the broad theme of identity explored through collaborative multimedia approaches and participatory practices. I’m passionate towards challenging traditional documentary perspectives by developing methods to involve subjects to have agency and become part of the creative process. In my practice, I explore how to embrace the fluidity of collaborative mediums with photography to develop layered and comprehensive visual narratives that challenge the exoticism of communities, including my own as an African Arabic Hijabi woman.

Having lived in the US during 9/11 and experienced rising xenophobia then returning back to Egypt where years later I participated in the Jan25 Egyptian revolution, I use my personal experiences as creative inspiration. As an advocate for native Bedouin community rights in Sinai, a licensed scuba diver and experienced mountain trekker, I’m drawn to topics that challenge linear narratives and oriental ideologies. I consider my work as alternative historical documents woven by the community’s voice.

In my practice, I welcome the complexity of an identity instead of reducing it to labels that may result in othering. I believe that photography and visual storytelling has the power to connect as much as divide communities. I look to explore using visual storytelling to contribute to a better, connected and compassionate world. Where we can see beyond preconceptions and prejudice. With rising issues on borders, stigma and general loss of identity around the world, I aim to use my work to advocate for social justice and understanding.

https://www.rehabeldalil.com/work-overview