Jordanian photographer’s exhibition captures Arabian heritage
Limited edition of 5 prints Frames size (approx.) 105x135cm AED 12,500
Jordanian photographer Tariq Dajani is capturing the Arab world’s unique connection to both the Arabian horse and hunting falcon through his portrait series, “Drinkers of the Wind.”
The exhibition, held in Saudi Arabia’s Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh, is set to run until the end of April, according to Arab News on April 25.
In “Drinkers of the Wind”, Dajani presents his deep passion for Arabian horses and falcons with his artistic vision, the culmination of 16 years spent photographing the beautiful animals across the Middle East, including Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Throughout Middle Eastern history, horses and falcons have been celebrated in arts and culture as symbols of beauty, strength, and freedom.
Both animals are linked to the romantic Bedouin culture, and are cherished within the Arab world as symbols of Arab heritage and pride.
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The British-Palestinian artist referenced his creative process, “My aim is to find a connection of sorts with the horse or the birds, I am not interested in documenting the creature; I try to go deeper, to express something emotionally if I can.
“I was living in Sweden when I decided to photograph the Arabian horse. So I had to return to the Middle East, and I started with Jordan, my home country.”
It was there that Dajani received the opportunity to meet the eldest daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, Princess Alia Al-Hussein.
As an enthusiast of his work, she gave the photographer permission to photograph the horses of the Royal Jordanian Stud.
“I will always remain very grateful to Princess Alia for her initial support, and to many others for encouraging the work and opening doors for me along the way.”
In addition to colour photography, the exhibition also features photogravure prints – a special process involving the use of metal plates and traditional printing presses – that result in a soft, almost-dreamlike quality to the images.
Arab News
