Biography
Born (1989) and currently based in Cairo, Egypt, Rehab Eldalil is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller. Her work focuses on the broad theme of identity explored through participatory creative practices.
In 2011, as she was graduating with a photography BA, Rehab was also participating in the Jan25 Egyptian revolution, as a result, she co-authored a best selling photo book called The Road To Tahrir. Since then, Rehab has been working on assignments with NGOs such as Drosos Foundation and UNICEF and publications documenting social and cultural concerns in Egypt while developing her personal projects. During her time teaching photography for graduate and undergraduate levels at the American University in Cairo between 2013 and 2015, Rehab began her research on identity, collaborative lens based approaches and representation in visual storytelling. Reconnecting to her Bedouin ancestry, Rehab co-founded Catherine Exists; a volunteer-based community centre that empowers Bedouin communities in South Sinai and provides free medical and educational services.
Rehab has received her photography MA with distinction award from Falmouth University, UK 2020 (long distance). And she received a one year certificate in documentary photography from the International Center of Photography 2021 (long distance).
Her long-term project The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken was shortlisted for PHmuseum Women Grant 2021, 6Mois Photojournalism award 2021, Philip Jones awards 2021, Marilyn Stafford award 2021 and Catchlight fellowship 2020. She was awarded AFAC & Magnum Foundation’s Arab Documentary Photography Program grant 2020, National Geographic Society’s Emergency grant for Journalists 2020 and Creative Activism award 2021. Most recently, Rehab was awarded the Foto Evidence W Award 2022 to publish her project in a book format, she has won the World Press Photo Regional Award 2022 (Open Format/Africa) and was also awarded the Premi Mediterrani Albert Camus 2022.
Rehab's work has been exhibited in many international collective exhibition around the world including Egypt, USA, UK, Germany, Brazil, Canada and Greece. She is currently working on the production of her long term project in a book form, starting a new project on mother/daughter relationships and continuing her research on collaboration in visual storytelling. Rehab is available for assignments and teaching positions in Egypt and Africa/Middle East region.
Artist Statement
In my practice, I explore how to challenge traditional documentary frameworks by developing methods to involve subjects to become part of the creative process and have agency. I experiment with 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 and Arabic 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 Bedouin community rights, 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. I welcome the complexity of an identity instead of reducing it to labels that may result in othering. My work is both personal and universal. I believe that photography and visual storytelling has the power to connect as much as divide communities. 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.
Awards & Nominations
Women Photograph & Getty Images grant 2022, grantee
Premi Mediterrani Albert Camus 2022, winner
World Press Photo Regional Award 2022, winner
Fotoevidence W Award, 2022, winner
Phmuseum Women Grant, 2021, finalist
6Mois Photojournalism Award, 2021, finalist
The British Journal Of Photography's Ones To Watch, 2021
Everyday Projects Grant, 2021, finalist
Marilyn Stafford Award, 2021, honourable mention
World Press Photo Awards, Contemporary Issues category, 2021, shortlisted
Philip Jones Griffiths Award, 2021, honourable mention
Creative Activism Award, 2021, grantee
National Geographic Society Emergency Grant for Journalists, 2020, grantee
Arab Documentary Photography Program, 2020, grantee
Photo Fringe Solo20, 2020, shortlisted
Marilyn Stafford Award, 2020, shortlisted
The Royal Photographic Society Best Graduates Feature, 2020
Catchlight Fellowship, 2020, honourable mention
Art Jameel Grant for Artists, 2020, grantee
Joop Swart Masterclass, 2020, nominee
Membership
Women Photograph
Diversify Photo
RUWA
World Press’ African Photojournalism Database
Native Agency
Education
Documentary Practice & Visual Journalism, The International Center of Photography, (online), 2020-2021
Photography MA, distinction award, Falmouth University, UK (online), 2018-2020
Photography BA, Helwan University, Egypt, 2006-2011
Workshops
Canon Student Development Programme, trained by Lars Lindemann and Aida Muluneh, 2020
Noor-Nikon Masterclass, trained by Tanya Habjouqa, Jon Lowenstein and Sebastein Liste, Spain, 2019
International Summer School Of Photography, trained by Tanya Habjouqa, Latvia, 2019
Selected Exhibitions
Theatre of Dreams, Breda Photo Festival, Breda, 2022
Art and Embroidery, Chur, 2022
World Press Photo winners world tour exhibition, 2022
Foto Wien, Vienna, 2022
The Everyday Projects, Oldenburg, 2022
Edited, Berlin, 2022
Photo Vogue Festival, Milan, 2021
Hamburg Portfolio Reviews exhibition, Hamburg, 2021
Oceano Alterado, The Journal collective exhibition, Sao Paulo, 2021
Looks Like Us, The Journal collective exhibition, Toronto, 2021
New Stories New Horizons, The Everyday Projects collective exhibition at Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, 2021
ICP concerned, New York, 2020
Photo Fringe festival, United Kingdom, 2020
Athens Photo Festival, Athens, 2020
Landings, Falmouth University graduates exhibition, online, 2020
Youth of Egypt, Carte Blanche, Egypt, 2019
Territory, by Native, Kunsthaus Flora, Berlin, 2019
Talks Conducted
World Press Photo Hamburg exhibition opening, 2022
Canon Student Program, 2022
Photopia Cairo, 2022
National Museum Of Women's Art, International Women's Day event, 2022
The International Center of Photography Alumni talk, 2022
Quietly Loud guest lecture, 2021
Falmouth University guest lecture, 2021
Women Photograph Workshop events, 2021
The Royal Photographic Society, 2020
Teaching
The American University in Cairo, 2013-2015 and 2022-present
Freelance, 2009-present
Books
The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken, 2022, co-published by Foto Evidence and Trobades & Premis Mediterranis Albert Camus
Roots Guide: Stories from the Netherlands, 2021, self published with the support of the National Geographic Society
Sinai Flora Field Guide, 2021, self published with the support of National Geographic Society and Creative Activism Award
The Road To Tahrir, 2011, American University in Cairo Press
Languages
Arabic (mother tongue)
English (fluent)
Spanish (basic)
Born (1989) and currently based in Cairo, Egypt, Rehab Eldalil is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller. Her work focuses on the broad theme of identity explored through participatory creative practices.
In 2011, as she was graduating with a photography BA, Rehab was also participating in the Jan25 Egyptian revolution, as a result, she co-authored a best selling photo book called The Road To Tahrir. Since then, Rehab has been working on assignments with NGOs such as Drosos Foundation and UNICEF and publications documenting social and cultural concerns in Egypt while developing her personal projects. During her time teaching photography for graduate and undergraduate levels at the American University in Cairo between 2013 and 2015, Rehab began her research on identity, collaborative lens based approaches and representation in visual storytelling. Reconnecting to her Bedouin ancestry, Rehab co-founded Catherine Exists; a volunteer-based community centre that empowers Bedouin communities in South Sinai and provides free medical and educational services.
Rehab has received her photography MA with distinction award from Falmouth University, UK 2020 (long distance). And she received a one year certificate in documentary photography from the International Center of Photography 2021 (long distance).
Her long-term project The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken was shortlisted for PHmuseum Women Grant 2021, 6Mois Photojournalism award 2021, Philip Jones awards 2021, Marilyn Stafford award 2021 and Catchlight fellowship 2020. She was awarded AFAC & Magnum Foundation’s Arab Documentary Photography Program grant 2020, National Geographic Society’s Emergency grant for Journalists 2020 and Creative Activism award 2021. Most recently, Rehab was awarded the Foto Evidence W Award 2022 to publish her project in a book format, she has won the World Press Photo Regional Award 2022 (Open Format/Africa) and was also awarded the Premi Mediterrani Albert Camus 2022.
Rehab's work has been exhibited in many international collective exhibition around the world including Egypt, USA, UK, Germany, Brazil, Canada and Greece. She is currently working on the production of her long term project in a book form, starting a new project on mother/daughter relationships and continuing her research on collaboration in visual storytelling. Rehab is available for assignments and teaching positions in Egypt and Africa/Middle East region.
Artist Statement
In my practice, I explore how to challenge traditional documentary frameworks by developing methods to involve subjects to become part of the creative process and have agency. I experiment with 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 and Arabic 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 Bedouin community rights, 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. I welcome the complexity of an identity instead of reducing it to labels that may result in othering. My work is both personal and universal. I believe that photography and visual storytelling has the power to connect as much as divide communities. 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.
Awards & Nominations
Women Photograph & Getty Images grant 2022, grantee
Premi Mediterrani Albert Camus 2022, winner
World Press Photo Regional Award 2022, winner
Fotoevidence W Award, 2022, winner
Phmuseum Women Grant, 2021, finalist
6Mois Photojournalism Award, 2021, finalist
The British Journal Of Photography's Ones To Watch, 2021
Everyday Projects Grant, 2021, finalist
Marilyn Stafford Award, 2021, honourable mention
World Press Photo Awards, Contemporary Issues category, 2021, shortlisted
Philip Jones Griffiths Award, 2021, honourable mention
Creative Activism Award, 2021, grantee
National Geographic Society Emergency Grant for Journalists, 2020, grantee
Arab Documentary Photography Program, 2020, grantee
Photo Fringe Solo20, 2020, shortlisted
Marilyn Stafford Award, 2020, shortlisted
The Royal Photographic Society Best Graduates Feature, 2020
Catchlight Fellowship, 2020, honourable mention
Art Jameel Grant for Artists, 2020, grantee
Joop Swart Masterclass, 2020, nominee
Membership
Women Photograph
Diversify Photo
RUWA
World Press’ African Photojournalism Database
Native Agency
Education
Documentary Practice & Visual Journalism, The International Center of Photography, (online), 2020-2021
Photography MA, distinction award, Falmouth University, UK (online), 2018-2020
Photography BA, Helwan University, Egypt, 2006-2011
Workshops
Canon Student Development Programme, trained by Lars Lindemann and Aida Muluneh, 2020
Noor-Nikon Masterclass, trained by Tanya Habjouqa, Jon Lowenstein and Sebastein Liste, Spain, 2019
International Summer School Of Photography, trained by Tanya Habjouqa, Latvia, 2019
Selected Exhibitions
Theatre of Dreams, Breda Photo Festival, Breda, 2022
Art and Embroidery, Chur, 2022
World Press Photo winners world tour exhibition, 2022
Foto Wien, Vienna, 2022
The Everyday Projects, Oldenburg, 2022
Edited, Berlin, 2022
Photo Vogue Festival, Milan, 2021
Hamburg Portfolio Reviews exhibition, Hamburg, 2021
Oceano Alterado, The Journal collective exhibition, Sao Paulo, 2021
Looks Like Us, The Journal collective exhibition, Toronto, 2021
New Stories New Horizons, The Everyday Projects collective exhibition at Cairo Photo Week, Cairo, 2021
ICP concerned, New York, 2020
Photo Fringe festival, United Kingdom, 2020
Athens Photo Festival, Athens, 2020
Landings, Falmouth University graduates exhibition, online, 2020
Youth of Egypt, Carte Blanche, Egypt, 2019
Territory, by Native, Kunsthaus Flora, Berlin, 2019
Talks Conducted
World Press Photo Hamburg exhibition opening, 2022
Canon Student Program, 2022
Photopia Cairo, 2022
National Museum Of Women's Art, International Women's Day event, 2022
The International Center of Photography Alumni talk, 2022
Quietly Loud guest lecture, 2021
Falmouth University guest lecture, 2021
Women Photograph Workshop events, 2021
The Royal Photographic Society, 2020
Teaching
The American University in Cairo, 2013-2015 and 2022-present
Freelance, 2009-present
Books
The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken, 2022, co-published by Foto Evidence and Trobades & Premis Mediterranis Albert Camus
Roots Guide: Stories from the Netherlands, 2021, self published with the support of the National Geographic Society
Sinai Flora Field Guide, 2021, self published with the support of National Geographic Society and Creative Activism Award
The Road To Tahrir, 2011, American University in Cairo Press
Languages
Arabic (mother tongue)
English (fluent)
Spanish (basic)