Akram Zaatari

Akram Zaatari (born 1966) is a Lebanese filmmaker, photographer, archival artist and curator. In 1997, he co-founded the Arab Image Foundation with photographers Fouad Elkoury, and Samer Mohdad. His work is largely based on collecting, studying and archiving the photographic history of the Arab World.

Zaatari was selected to represent Lebanon at the 2013 Venice Biennale by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, curators for the Lebanese Pavilion.

Early life Zaatari was born in Sidon, Lebanon year: 1966. His work has been widely exhibited worldwide in biennales and venues such as the Centre Pompidou and is in the permanent collection of museums such as Tate Modern and the Thyssen Bornemisza Contemporary.

Filmography Majnounak (Crazy of You), 1997 Red Chewing Gum, 2000 Her + Him VAN LEO, 2001 How I love you, 2001 This Day (al yaoum), 2003 In this house, 2005 Tomorrow Everything Will Be Alright, 2010 On Photography People and Modern Times, 2010 Letter to a Refusing Pilot, 2013

Awards Grand Prize of the 17th International Contemporary Art Festival SESC_Videobrasil in São Paulo (2011)

Publications The Vehicle. Picturing moments of transition in a modernizing society (Arab Image Foundation and Mind the Gap, 1999) Mapping Sitting (Arab Image Foundation and Mind the Gap, 2002) Hashem el Madani: Studio Practices (Arab Image Foundation, Mind the Gap and the Photographers' Gallery, 2004) Hashem el Madani: Promenades (Arab Image Foundation and Mind the Gap, 2007) Earth of Endless Secrets (Portikus and Beirut Art Center, 2010) Against Photography (Kaph Books and MACBA, 2018) Building Index. Rifat Chadirji , edited by Akram Zaatari and Mark Wasiuta (Arab Image Foundation and Kaph Books, 2018)

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions Akram Zaatari. Objects of Study, Galerie Sfeir Semler, Hamburg, 2007 Earth of Endless Secrets. Writing for a Posterior Time, Beirut Art Center, 2009 Akram Zaatari. Nature Morte, Baltic Mill, 2009 Akram Zaatari Composition for Two Wings, Oslo, Kunstnernes Hus, 2011 Liverpool Biennial Spotlight Akram Zaatari, Liverpool Biennial, 2012 This Day at Ten, Le Magasin-Cnac, Grenoble, 2012 Akram Zaatari, Letter to a refusing pilot, Lebanese Pavilion, Arsenale, 55. Venice Biennial, Venice, Italy, 2013 Akram Zaatari, All Is Well, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queens University, Kingston, ON, 2013–2014 Akram Zaatari, Unfolding, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, 2015 Akram Zaatari, Against Photography. An Annoted History of the Image Arab Foundation, MACBA, Barcelona, 2017 Akram Zaatari. The Third Window, Sfeir Semler Gallery, Beirut 2018

Group exhibitions Documenta (13), Kassel, 2012 Across Boundaries. Focus on Lebanese Photography, curated by Tarek Nahas, Beirut Art Fair 2018 In 2023, Akram Zaatari participated in BIENALSUR (Bienal Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo del Sur), presenting work in the exhibition Modos de desvanecimiento at the Sursock Museum in Beirut, Lebanon.