In the Shadow of the Pyramids explores memory and identity in Egypt

A long-term personal look at how the everyday citizens of Egypt and how things have changed in years since the Arab Spring.

In the Shadow of the Pyramids is a first person account exploring memory and identity. With images spanning 2005 to 2014, what began as a look in the mirror to understand the essence of Egyptian identity expanded into an exploration of the trials and tribulations of a turbulent nation.

The result is dark, sentimental and passionate. Juxtaposing the innocence of the past with the obscurity of the present. This is an experience, edited to look like a one night’s encounter. A peaceful and tranquil day suddenly turns violent and chaotic, it’s claustrophobic, until a new dawn rises and there is hope again.

"This work is a portrayal of Egypt through my own eyes," says the photographer Laura El-Tantawy. "Guided by my childhood memories and a struggle to understand the country I call my home, In the Shadow of the Pyramids is my journey through Egypt to explore the essence of Egyptian identity in the hope of coming to terms with my own — from the time of Mubarak to the revolution and Egypt's looming future." 

In 2014, El-Tantawy launched a successful crowd-funding campaign to raise money for a book of her project. The book is available through her website.