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Osama esid

Born in Damascus, Syria in 1970, Osama Esid studied photography at the Technical Institute of Damascus, working at the same time in his father tailor shop. In 1994, he decides to leave Syria and travel to Paris. In 1996 he moved to the United States. From then until today he lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He developed the majority of his series in Cairo between 2003 and 2005, which later on formed a mobile gallery across Spain titled (A Play on Representation; The Egyptian Experiment) from 2007 to 2008. Esid built his reputation as a photographer of the exotic and is known for images of imagined Parisian brothels, the bustling marketplaces of Cairo, men in Galabya, and women from “Arabian Nights” fantasias. Yet, from his current home in Minnesota, Esid manages to make the ordinary spectacular-whether he is exploring local rivers, rural vistas, urban alleys, or his own backyard. He frequently depicts his two daughters; age six and nine, in Minnesota’s abandoned yards and not occasionally himself, as in a self-portrait on a derelict sofa. Like dual “Alices” with an amiable cohort, they play in diffusely-shaded arbors, abundant bracken and brambles concealing toys, washtubs, empty crates, etc. However, one wonders about the strange man in a tattered fedora (Osama) dangling a toy rabbit, triggering a shutter, or watching from behind the camera beneath a dark cloth. These works are as much about the unresolved mysteries of childhood, as they are documents of parenting- the daughters self-possessed gazes begging the question of whom, man or little girl, is more child-like. Part of the surreal effects achieved in this series are due to what Esid refers to as “the ghost lens,” a well-worn 32.5mm Ernst LeitzWetzler whose selective focus, unpredictable fogging, and distortions are not fully within the his ability to control. It is often Esid’s capability to cede perfection and accept the fortunate accident that marks much of his work. With only the slightest pre-visualization, and directing his subjects in a most general way, he allows the process to take precedence, trusting his extensive knowledge of light and gear. Esid held solo exhibitions and participated in collective ones internationally including: Spain, France, The Netherlands, Switzerland and UAE. He also gave workshops in the US and Middle East.