Ahmed Qabel (b. 1999, Menofia, Egypt) graduated from Al-Azhar University with a bachelor in Commerce in 2022.
He is a self-taught photographer who began his passion for photography in 2018. In 2021, his first long-term project, "Cairo Return," was selected to receive the AFAC grant. In 2023, the same project won the Canon Student Development Program.
His photography focuses on social issues and marginalized communities.
Photo by Muhammed Hozyn.
Artist Statement:
I began my photography journey at the start of my university years, using nothing more than my phone. I did not study photography academically, nor do I come from a family with a background in art. I am entirely self-taught, learning through online resources and experimentation, and now I work primarily with a digital camera to create my photographs.
I am deeply curious about individuals, society, objects, and the relationships that emerge from their interconnectedness. Photography has become a tool that enhances my awareness and understanding of these topics—and of life itself. It opens countless windows for me to observe, reflect, and explore. In my search for answers to these questions, I find photography to be the most fitting medium for shaping and expressing my perspective.
As an artist working with a medium capable of preserving visual heritage, I feel a profound responsibility to ensure that current and future generations have the right to know their heritage through a lens that truly represents them. My aim is to tell their stories authentically and without bias. My long-term goal is for my work to contribute to preserving the identity and visual memory of society, creating a lasting legacy for the future.
Exhibitions:
- Africa Foto Fair 2023. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. See more Here.
- Roznama 8 with Medrar, Contemporary Image Collective (CIC) 2021. Cairo, Egypt.
- Egypt press photo 2021. Cairo, Egypt.
Contacts:
Email: qabelphotos@gmail.com