Contact Currently based in Cairo, Egypt Available for assignments info@rehabeldalil.com +201003515486
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)