Tunisian photographer and creative Bachir Tayachi (Instagram) works with film, video and drawings to create extraordinary images of the ordinary, bringing through raw emotions thanks to his connection to his subjects.
When was it that you discovered your passion for photography? Take us back to your earliest memory of it.
One of my earliest memories of photography was when I was 10 years old. My sister had an old vintage camera, and I was fascinated by the way it could capture the world around me. I took my first pictures with that camera – they were pieces of metal that I found on the rooftop of my parent’s house. Even though they were just simple objects, I felt like I was capturing something special and unique.
You have an educational background in architecture. Does that factor into your work?
In June, I will receive my diploma as an architect from Tunis National School of Architecture. Certainly. My background in architecture has definitely influenced my work as a visual artist and photographer. I learned to think critically about space, form, and function. Architecture has taught me to pay close attention to the relationship between different elements in a space and to consider how they interact with one another.
When I create visual art, I often apply the same principles of composition, form, and space that I learned in architecture. I use my understanding of these elements to construct visually compelling images that engage the viewer and invite them to explore the nuances of the space I have created. I am also deeply influenced by the aesthetic principles of architecture, including minimalism, clean lines, and geometric shapes.
Your photographs have an emotional essence to them. How do you go about creating it? Do you specifically look for moments to capture, or do they come to life organically?
I aim to capture the emotional essence of a moment or a feeling in a raw and authentic way. I employ both organic and intentional methods, sometimes going out with a specific idea in mind and actively looking for moments that match my vision, and other times wandering around with my camera and letting my intuition guide me. Regardless of my approach, I prioritize creating a comfortable and trusting atmosphere for my subjects, to allow them to express themselves authentically.
What interests you about human behavior and emotions and what are you trying to say through your work?
In my work, I hope to capture and appreciate each person’s uniqueness, highlighting the specific attributes that set them apart from others. I feel it is critical to promote and value diversity, and I hope that my work inspires people to understand and enjoy our differences. At the same time, I wish to portray the universal human experiences and feelings that unite us all. By capturing my subjects’ raw and authentic emotions, I hope to foster empathy and connection among viewers, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human experience.
Throughout your career, you have curated short films that depict different human emotions and experiences. What challenges have you faced working with film in contrast to photography?
Yes, I have created several short films such as ‘Daydreaming’ (5 min), ‘Her’ (7 min), and most recently ‘Little Black Sheep’, which took me seven months to complete and won me the special prize in Khatawat Cineparcour 2022. While working with film, I found it to be more challenging than photography due to the increased time and preparation required, as well as the need to focus more on actors’ performances. In addition, the filmmaking process involves several stages, such as scriptwriting, decoupage, montage, and post-production. However, I also believe that both mediums offer unique challenges and rewards, and it’s up to each artist to choose the approach that best aligns with their creative vision and goals.
‘Little Black Sheep’ is a short fiction experimental film telling the story of the people who live the chronic fear of their truth, the fear that’s haunting us from revealing our truth to the world.
The film tells a story of two boys, cisgender males, who live in a small estate where each one is living the journey of discovering his sexual identity by sharing desire, sensuality and lust in a non-communicative and violent relationship that comes out of fear.
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