A selection of work from lens-based artist and filmmaker Tejal Patni. Patni is based in Dubai and known for creating striking, cinematic worlds that often hover between reality and imagination. His artistic journey reflects his deep fascination with memory, perception, and the surreal often layering playfulness with quiet introspection. These images are part of a photo series based on Patni’s immersive art installation titled “Longing.” The original installation involved live actors and a built set. The project is meant to capture small, personal moments: someone waiting, someone lost in thought, someone feeling something they can’t quite name. For Patni, art is a way of stepping beyond the frame, creating layered experiences where the viewer is not just looking, but living inside the work:
“I want people to feel like participants in a conversation between light, color, and emotion. Ultimately, my practice is about dissolving boundaries between reality and dream, between artist and audience, and offering small moments of wonder and reflection in a world that moves too fast.”
Tejal Patni participated in our 2025 Booooooom Art & Photo Book Award and made our shortlist.