Denis Dailleux’s frames of Egypt

Denis Dailleux’s images of life in Egypt form the heart and soul of his work. The 57-year-old photographer, who has lived in Cairo for the past nine years, is the subject of a major exhibition this month at the Gulf Photo Plus gallery in Dubai’s Al Quoz district. What makes his work distinctive is the series of portraits of ordinary Egyptians trying to live and survive under what are often difficult conditions. These include Mother and Son, a series that captured the love of bodybuilders for their mothers, which is regarded as one of his most personal works. It won second prize in the staged portrait category in last year’s World Press Photo awards. His series on the relatives of people who lost their lives during the January 2011 revolution also concentrates on intimate portraits to capture the full power of their loss. Dailleux has said he tries to tell a story of Egypt that goes deeper than the clichés of tourism and the international spotlight in images that range from Berber shepherds to Cairo belly dancers.

Egypt. A Spirit Within runs from November 16 to December 31 at Gulf Photo Plus, Alserkal Avenue, D36, Al Quoz, Dubai. There is an artist guided tour on November 16 at 8pm.