Behind Black Door, 2024 - present

This body of work offers a visual entry point into a constructed reality shaped by Abdallah’s imagination. Using minimal forms and bold contrast, the image explores how archetypes—shared symbols from collective memory—can be reinterpreted through a modern, urban lens. The exaggerated body and stretched proportions create a sense of visual tension, drawing attention to the space between the figure and its surroundings. This high contrast between form and emptiness highlights both the absurdity and humor found in everyday life. By distorting the familiar, it’s an invitation to question what we see, and how perception shapes meaning.

Close-up of a woman's face in black and white, with her eyes closed, wearing glasses and headphones, with her head tilted back.
A black and white photo of a person with dark hair, wearing a long-sleeved top, a necklace, and a wide-brimmed hat, with one arm raised across their face, revealing one eye.
Black and white figurine of a woman in athletic clothing, hunched over with hands on her knees, wearing sneakers, set against a plain light background.
Black and white photo of a woman lying on her back with her legs raised straight in the air, holding her feet with her hands.
A woman stands holding a fish, with her head partially covered by a metallic hemisphere, in a minimalist black-and-white portrait.
A person in black clothing holding a fish with a large fish head in their hand.
A black and white close-up photo of a woman's face with closed eyes, wearing a tall, dark headpiece, and touching her shoulder.
A person in black clothing and high heels is squatting with arms extended, wearing a tall pointed hat, set against a white background with shadows.
Close-up black and white photograph of a woman's face, focusing on her eye, nose, and mouth, with parts cropped out.
Black high-heeled stiletto shoes with pointed toes, viewed from the side, on a white background.
Black and white photo of a person with short hair, wearing a tall, pointed hat, squatting with legs apart, and wearing sheer black tights. The person's face is framed by their hands, with a confident and intense expression.
Close-up of a woman wearing high heels, tights, and a black outfit, standing with one leg extended forward and her hand gently resting on her thigh.

Sahareeg, 2022

Sahareeg is a visual documentation project that maps and records architectural structures across Egypt, specifically, water towers revealing the country's industrial landscape. During my road trips across the country, I gradually explored the diversity of each location by driving between the major cities. My interactions with locals made me realize how their urban environment affects the rhythm of their towns and villages and, thus, their lives. Therefore, I took it upon myself to document these urban environments and landmarks as silent witnesses to tell many stories about the communities around them. Despite the breakthrough that the work of the celebrated Hilla and Bernd Becher

Black and white photo of an old water tower on a metal structure with a surrounding corrugated metal fence. Buildings and a cloudy sky in the background.
A tall old lighthouse with a round top and small openings, situated in a busy area with vehicles, tents, trees, and a few structures around, in black and white.
A black and white photo of the El Pipestower with a round top and horizontal louvers on the side. It stands on a tall, cylindrical support structure over nearby buildings and trees.
Black and white image of a tall, multi-level water tower with an external spiral staircase.
Black and white photo of a tall, cylindrical industrial tower with a large, rounded top section, and small rectangular windows along its body, set against a clear sky with snow at the base.

Guardians of the sacred valley

The Sacred Mountains of St. Catherine are the highest geographical point in Egypt and are famous for their botanical and environmental richness, which includes many rare wild herbs that have been used in medicinal recipes for centuries. However, in recent years, and like many other natural protectorates, St. Catherine has begun to show symptoms of ecological disruption and adaptation to the new world fever facing the threat of losing its natural heritage and cultural identity. The Jabilya tribe, the smallest of South Sinai tribes inhabiting the region, is in danger of losing its legacy as mountain guides and gardeners of a wonderful botanical heritage.

Black and white photo of a hiker walking along a rocky mountain trail, with rugged terrain and sparse vegetation in the background.
Close-up of dried dandelion flowers on a rough reddish-brown rock surface, with a black-and-white illustration of a dandelion flower on a white background overlayed on the right.
Black and white photo of a mountain valley with a small town or village at the base of rugged mountains.
A person working on a woven basket outdoors, with a border terrier dog in a dry, rocky landscape nearby, and various cooking utensils and containers on a rock.
A person's hand covered in red paint or dye, with a black and white inset image of a fruit with a leafy top, resembling a tomato or a similar round fruit.
A man with a backpack sits among rocks and bushes with a rocky hillside behind him.