Bio
Born in England to a Palestinian father and an English mother, Tariq Dajani spent his early years moving between various countries in the Middle East and Europe. This provided an appreciation and understanding of different people and cultures, which is reflected in how he views and tries to make sense of a sometimes confusing and often contradictory world. Over the years, he learned his craft working both as an artist and as a commercial photographer for advertising and design agencies, based in London, Stockholm and Dubai. He gradually found a style that he felt comfortable with which spoke the truth and emotion that he was seeking. Tariq now lives on an organic homestead in Galicia, north-western Spain, with his wife, and their four legged family of Arabian horses, Saluki dogs, and cats. He continues to pursue new art projects and exhibit regularly in addition to teaching a few photography and printmaking workshops.
The horse and falcon series were photographed over a period of about 6 years in various countries in the Middle East. Dajani’s interest in these creatures, that are significant in the cultural and historical heritage of the Middle East, was not in documenting their beauty nor their blood-lines, pedigrees, and the like. He was interested in going deeper into their character, in finding some sort of emotion in presenting their portraits.
Awards / Judging
2017 International Photographer of the Year, Judge.
2010 Campaign Photography Awards, Middle East, Winner.
2007 International Color Awards, 1st Place.
2001 John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.
Solo Exhibitions
2020 Drinkers of the Wind, Katara Arts Centre, Doha, Qatar
2019 Kitab al-Filaha, Casa Árabe, Córdoba, Spain.
2019 Hikāyāt (stories), Jacaranda, Amman, Jordan.
2018 Kitab Al-Filaha, Impact10, Santander, Spain.
2018 Kitab al-Filaha, Casa Árabe, Madrid, Spain.
2018 Drinkers of the Wind, Showcase, Dubai, UAE.
2017 Kitab al-Filaha & La Alpujarra, Bibliotecade, Andalucia, Granada, Spain.
2015 Kitab al-Filaha, Jacaranda, Amman, Jordan.
2014 El Asil y El Noble, Kasser Rassu, Marbella, Spain.
2013 SAQR, the hunting falcon, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
2011 SAQR, the hunting falcon, Jacaranda, Amman, Jordan.
2009 Above Wadi Rum, Jacaranda, Amman, Jordan.
2009 ASIL, the Arabian horse, The Empty Quarter, Dubai, UAE.
2008 ASIL, the Arabian horse, DRC, Dubai, UAE.
2008 ASIL, the Arabian horse, Zara Centre/Jacaranda, Amman, Jordan.
2008 Arabhästen, Galleri Hippo, Stockholm, Sweden
2003 Skin, Galleri Z:e, Stockholm, Sweden.
Group Exhibitions
2022 The World is a handkerchief / El mundo es un pañuelo, Ace, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Shadow and Light, Al-Mutanabbi Street project, University of Pennsylvania, USA
2021 Retrospectiva: una década de reencuentro con el mundo árabe, Casa Árabe, Córdoba, Spain
The Gallery, The Gallery Building, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Agawami International Miniture Print Exhibition, Shikoku Island, Japan
III International Mini Print Cantabria, Instituto Cervantes, Bordeaux, France
2020 III International Mini Print Cantabria, Santander, Spain
The World is a handkerchief / El mundo es un pañuelo, Blackburn 20 |20 Gallery, NY, US
2019 Skin of the Print, Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester, UK
The World is a handkerchief / El mundo es un pañuelo, London Print Studio Gallery, UK
2019 Skin of the Print, Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester, UK.
2019 The World is a handkerchief / El mundo es un pañuelo, London Print Studio Gallery, London, UK.
2019 Shadow and Light, Al-Mutanabbi Street project, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Liverpool, UK.
2013 An Eye for an Ear, Photography Open Salon, China House, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.
2012 An Eye for an Ear, Photography Open Salon, Arles, France.
2010 Playground, Lumas Gallery, Cologne, Germany.
2009 Three Dimensions, The National Museum of Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain.
2009 My Name is Robot, The Jam Jar, Dubai, UAE.
2008 Art Abode, XVA Gallery, Harvey Nichols, Dubai, UAE.
2008 DIFC Installation,The Empty Quarter Gallery, Dubai, UAE.
2008 Creek Art Fair, XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE.
2006 Mind, EURO RSCG, London, UK.
2005 Capture, AoP Gallery, London, UK.
2003 03, AoP Gallery, London, UK.
2001 John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.
2000 Landmarks, AoPGallery, London, UK.
1999 Edge, AoP Gallery, London, UK.
1994 Freedom Now, Photographer’s Gallery, London, UK.