NOTES ON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

2011. Photography and text.

 

 

Momentum 2011

Installation, The 6th Momentum Biennial, NO

 

In the fall 2010 I traveled to Cairo with the intention of examining the public spaces of one of the Worlds most densely populated cities. The majority of the parks and gardens were fenced, guarded or simply not accessible for the public. As a part of my research I decided to talk to different people about this, finishing all conversations by asking them to describe the most beautiful place in Cairo. In the work these personal testimonies are accompanied with photos taken by me retrospectively. The texts and images do much more than describe beautiful places, they unfold a variety of personalities, voices and stories that relate to living in Cairo. In addition, the revolutionary events that took place after the conception of this project create a close tie to the current state and possible future of the city. Notes on most the beautiful is dedicated to one of the narrators, Ahmed Bassiony, who died during the revolution in February 2011. He was the only one describing the most beautiful place as people.

 

archival ink on baryt paper, oak frame w. glass

 

Nursery

 

Rose Farm

 

Car Cemetery

 

City of the dead

 

Dahab

 

 

 

People

 

People - Ahmed Bassiony

 

 

© Bettina Camilla Vestergaard / 2011

 

 

 

the road pavilion under the bridge the pavement the bench enlarge the road enlarge the pavilion enlarge under the bridge enlarge the bench