Selma Roth Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The French presidential elections of 2012 were the subject of a personal art project at the French Consulate that opened on Thursday. “Al-Fatra” (“The Period”), by Palestinian/Jordanian artist Ayman Yossri Daydban, was held in collaboration with Athr Gallery. It covers three months of the elections that took place while Daydban was in Paris. For anyone from Paris or the West in general, the images may look trivial: posters of presidential candidates daubed with a clown nose, a torn placard bearing the swastika symbol, a video of the metro and another video of some youngsters hanging out on the grass. For an Arab born in Palestine, carrying Jordanian nationality and living in Jeddah, these are unique events. Born in 1966, Ayman Yossri Daydban is not an unknown face to those familiar with the local art scene. He has been living most of his life in Jeddah and strongly identifies with this city. His works reveal an observant personality. Thus, it is no surprise that his three-month stay in Paris, with the support of Al-Mansouria Foundation, led to an observation of the day-to-day life of Parisians whom he joined by lining up alongside them when they cast their vote, walking with them on the streets when they went out to demonstrate and watching them while they defaced posters of presidential nominees. Daydban told Saudi Gazette that with this exhibition, or rather “social project”, he wanted to show French people living abroad how he, as a Middle Eastern artist, conceived Parisian life. Despite having lived there for such a short period, Daydban said he felt for them and understood their longing for their city, hence, the decision to host this project in the French Consulate. While the images displayed are “exotic” for locals in the sense that there are no elections here, no metro, no affection in public, and no freedom to express an opinion of the would-be leader, the globalized era we live in means people all over the world are familiar with them. French Consul General Louis Blin said during his speech: “Arabs are sometimes surprised at the interest shown by Westerners to elements of their heritage they deem futile. “The same way, some of us might be surprised today by Ayman's attention to certain details of Parisian life.” It is always eye opening to see how someone from a distinct cultural background perceives a particular culture and Daydban, in his exhibition, aims to play his part in keeping the dialogue among cultures alive. “Al-Fatra” will be on display at the French Consulate until Saturday, April 5.
