1992

Egypt

SHABRAMANT and the 40 Portraits

Polaroid negative BW 4/5"

40-part portrait series of an Egyptian village of fellows.

Egypt, January 1992. Arrival in a strange, completely different world where we will spend the next nine months. The house where we live and work is on the edge of a labyrinthine fellah village. Shabramant. Near a huge, wildly jumbled collection of houses, donkeys and cars, irregularly interwoven expanses of asphalt and earth, squares of green. The whole densely dotted with people. Cairo. Only after some time did we manage to gain the trust of the rather photo-shy Muslim population and take portraits of the people. First the men, the notables, the old people and authorities of the place. Later, with the sometimes necessary consent of the husbands or fathers, the women as well. Many villagers had never been to the nearby capital Cairo.

In collaboration with Tobias Madörin.

1992 Publisher Pro Helvetia Cairo / 1995 Own publication. Both are out of print.

29.7 x 18.6 cm

Barite prints
30 x 40cm: print run 5 pcs.
100 x 120cm: print run 2 pcs.