For his series, “The Guardians,” Antaki traveled across Europe, the Middle East, and America, photographing shopkeepers or “Guardians.” These “Guardians” are keepers of what Antaki terms “urban temples,” unique spaces which, in an age of cookie-cutter, corporate shops, hearken back to an earlier time and mode of urban life. Antaki creates visually arresting portraits of the “Guardians” in their urban temples that make the viewer connect to the beauty of these often-forgotten spaces.
These urban temples are the heart and soul of our cities; they are what give the urban centre its uniqueness in time and space. There is also a duty of remembrance associated with these places. As many of them close their doors, it is incumbent on artists like Antaki to preserve their memory.
A crucial aspect of the presentation of 'The Guardians' is Antaki's choice to display these photographs in large format, giving the portraits a life-size scale. This approach not only strengthens the connection between the viewer and the subjects, but also brings the spaces they occupy to life. Antaki frequently uses closed shop windows as backdrops for his exhibitions, creating a convincing illusion of presence despite absence. This innovative exhibition method not only gives these shopkeepers and artisans a new lease of life through art; it also transforms neglected urban corners into veritable galleries of memory and resilience.
Each portrait is taken within the first minutes of Antaki’s encounter with the “Guardian”. The idea is to capture the look of a stranger on another stranger. The “Guardian” is always positioned in the center of their urban temples, and the choice to systematically shoot with the same ultra wide angle adds majesty and consistency to the series.
Antaki believes that these temples are the heart and soul of every city; they are what give the urban center its uniqueness in time and place. There is also a duty of memory associated with these spaces. As so many of them are closing, it falls to artists such as Antaki to preserve their memory.
“Through his photographic survey, Antaki addresses the social value and fragile nature of individualized work in an increasingly homogenized, consumerist society. In our highly technological era, where the past is quickly forsaken by a lust for the newest, latest, and greatest, the economic conditions supporting those purveyors of our quirky cultural “heirlooms” are gradually becoming more tenuous. Work places themselves are increasingly democratized, depersonalized and scaled-up for the sake of commercial efficiency. The artist sees this, and he responds. The sitters tell their stories, but also implicit in these images is the close association of each person to the articles they have surrounded themselves with, which prompts us to consider the psychological relationship between each subject and their created environment. Antaki steps deeply into the treasured realms of these individuals. With his acute perception of the present moment and a gentle curiosity he eloquently takes stock, allowing us privileged access to the idiosyncratic wealth of the Guardians.”
- Edward Burtynsky
