Dalel's photographic series captivate with their pared-down aesthetic and their ability to exude visual serenity by focusing on detail. In her project entitled "هي - Elle - She", the artist gives salient meaning to the detail of fragments, proposing a horizontal reading of the story cut into several sequences. From the woman's body, Dalel revisits the tradition of the "Loutiya", an emblematic stage in the Tunisian wedding ceremony, where the bride adorns herself in jewellery and imposing traditional costumes, strong symbols of preparation before joining her husband and celebrating the ultimate union.
Dalel's photographs invite us to contemplate the beauty and profound symbolism of these intimate moments steeped in tradition. At the same time, Dalel Tangour's "Fettered Bodies" reveal a troubling reality in which brides find themselves weighed down by traditional costumes that confine them to culturally predetermined roles, intensifying the impact of social claustration.
Dalel Tangour's black-and-white photographs forcefully capture the heaviness of the social gaze and invite us to reflect on the limitations imposed by society and the constraints that weigh on these female bodies.
Text: Yasmine Azzi-Kohlhepp