Akram Zaatari

Two Palestinian Sisters 1950, 2004 Paris

Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in Saida, began working in 1948. Like all studio photographers his subjects came to him. The studio was a constant flux of visitors. It was perceived as a safe haven, where the subjects of his photographs...

Anonymous. Madani,’s parent’s home. The Studio, 1949-50 1950, 2004 Paris

"Other photographers used to send me negatives of cross-eyed people, asking me to retouch them. I used to scratch out the emulsion where the pupil is, and draw another one right next to it." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio...

Bashasha (left) and a friend. Studio Sherhazade 1950, 2004 Paris

"Films inspired people a lot. they came to perform kissing in front of a camera. In a conservative society such as Saida, people were willing to play the kiss between two people of the same sex, but very rarely between a man and a woman.I...

Anonymous, Madani's parents home 1950, 2004 Paris

"While taking the picture it was challenging to make the boys sit properly without moving. Sometimes a member of the family whould hide behind, holding the child." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in Saida, began...

Anonymous, Studio Sherhazade 1950, 2004 Paris

"In the 1980s I started using coloured paper backdrops, one of which was yellow. You can see they never reached the floor. I used them for colour and black-and-white photography." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in...

"Najm", Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon 1956 Paris

"People often asked if they could pose with the Kodak advertisement where a full scale woman is featured with a camera offering Kodak rolls. They invented the poses, the gestures and situations." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio...

"Baqari's wife", Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon 1957 Paris

"These are negatives that were scratched because of a jealous husband from the Baqari family, who never let his wife out by herself. He was upset to know that she came to be photographed in my studio without telling him. He came asking for the...

"Baqari's wife", Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon 1957 Paris

"These are negatives that were scratched because of a jealous husband from the Baqari family, who never let his wife out by herself. He was upset to know that she came to be photographed in my studio without telling him. He came asking for the...

A girl and her brother. Studio Sherazade. 1960s 1960, 2004 Paris

"When you position your hand on someone's shoulder, your shoulders become straight and horizontal. Placing one's hand on a stable surface helps position the shoulders and the general posture of the body." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani,...

"Two young men from Aadloun", Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon 1966 Paris

"People often asked if they could pose with the Kodak advertisement where a full scale woman is featured with a camera offering Kodak rolls. They invented the poses, the gestures and situations." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio...

"Anonymous", Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon 1970 Paris

"People often asked if they could pose with the Kodak advertisement where a full scale woman is featured with a camera offering Kodak rolls. They invented the poses, the gestures and situations." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio...

"Anonymous (Jradi and a friend)", Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon 1972 Paris

"The two men were relatives and both were in the Lebanese Army." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in Saida, began working in 1948. Like all studio photographers his subjects came to him. The studio was a constant...

Anonymous, Madani's parents home 1950, 2004 Paris

"While taking the picture it was challenging to make the boys sit properly without moving. Sometimes a member of the family whould hide behind, holding the child." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in Saida, began...

Anonymous, Studio Sherhazade 1950, 2004 Paris

"In the 1980s I started using coloured paper backdrops, one of which was yellow. You can see they never reached the floor. I used them for colour and black-and-white photography." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in...

A girl and her brother. Studio Sherazade. 1960s 1960, 2004 Paris

"When you position your hand on someone's shoulder, your shoulders become straight and horizontal. Placing one's hand on a stable surface helps position the shoulders and the general posture of the body." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani,...

Two Palestinian Sisters 1950, 2004 Paris

Hashem El Madani, a studio photographer in Saida, began working in 1948. Like all studio photographers his subjects came to him. The studio was a constant flux of visitors. It was perceived as a safe haven, where the subjects of his photographs...

Anonymous. Madani,’s parent’s home. The Studio, 1949-50 1950, 2004 Paris

"Other photographers used to send me negatives of cross-eyed people, asking me to retouch them. I used to scratch out the emulsion where the pupil is, and draw another one right next to it." Hashem El Madani.
Hashem El Madani, a studio...

Bashasha (left) and a friend. Studio Sherhazade 1950, 2004 Paris

"Films inspired people a lot. they came to perform kissing in front of a camera. In a conservative society such as Saida, people were willing to play the kiss between two people of the same sex, but very rarely between a man and a woman.I...

Zaatari combines the skills of a historian, a curator and an artist. He is interested in salvaging and preserving the past, in challenging the perceived norms of history. 'Diversity is the most important factor in resisting misrepresentation' he stated. 'Focusing on iniduality thus becomes a political mission.'
Akram Zaatari was born in 1966 in Saida, Lebanon. He lives and works in Beirut.