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KITAB AL-FILAHA by Tariq Dajani
A photographic exhibition of a unique selection of handcrafted Intaglio prints inspired by the 12th century writings of the Muslim scholar Ibn al’Awwam al-Ishbili of al-Andalus will be exhibited at Jacaranda Images from November 3, 2015 with an artists’ talk on November 4.
An interest in the ancient book Kitab al-Filaha, combined with an appreciation of early Spanish still-life paintings from Velázquez to Goya, provided the inspiration for this latest exhibition by Tariq Dajani. His black and white studies are presented as a series of beautiful, hand-crafted intaglio prints, a rare and highly-skilled method of etching photographic images onto metal plates and then hand-printing them onto paper.
The prints show thousand-year old olive trees, rugged landscapes, and still-lifes of fruit, nuts, bones, wood and stone. Dramatic and theatrically staged, the photographs trace elements from the past, remains of time and history, and lost stories, drawing a line between now and then, life and death – which is cleverly contrasted in the literal meaning of still-life in English and naturaleza muerta (dead nature) in Spanish. The photographs have an intensity of blackness, such as that of old European religious paintings, the quiet background shadows provide a setting, with the focus on subtle details caught in the light. The viewer is encouraged to question the meaning behind these ordinary objects that are presented in such an extraordinary way.
Kitab al-Filaha (The Book of Agriculture) was compiled by Ibn al’Awwam al-Ishbili, a Muslim scholar of al-Andalus (Islamic Spain), in the 12th century. It comprised of more than a thousand pages of text and drawings, and dealt with all aspects of agriculture and the care of livestock. It was the most comprehensive treatment of the subject of its time in Arabic or any other language.
Tariq Dajani
Born in the UK, Tariq Dajani spent his early formative years constantly moving between the Middle East and Europe, gaining an understanding and an appreciation of different cultures and traditions. He grew up with a strong interest in art, which subsequently led to a career in photography.
After working for over 20 years in London, Stockholm, Dubai and Amman, Tariq Dajani has developed a distinctive style in his photographic work, with personal projects that tend to focus on themes relating to identity, belonging and environment. He now lives in a remote, mountainous region in southern Spain, called La Alpujarra, which was the last stronghold of the Muslims before they were expelled. He retains a visceral connection to his Arab heritage which appears throughout his work.
Dajani has had a solo exhibition called SAQR in 2011, 2 solo exhibitions for ASIL, the body of work on the purebred Arabian horse, in Amman in March 2008 and in Dubai in 2009 and the solo feature ‘Wadi Rum from Above’ at Jacaranda Images in November 2009. Additionally his work was shown at The Bahrain National Museum in the exhibition ‘3 Dimensions, 3 Jordanian Artists’ curated by Jacaranda Images in May 2009.
Tariq’s work has been exhibited in galleries across Europe and the Middle East. He has won several international photographic awards. Limited edition prints of his photographs are owned by art lovers and collectors worldwide.
