ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1996-1998)
How current is the image of the Arab sheikh? The romantic idea of the prince of the desert on his Arabian stallion lives on in Hollywood, but the contemporary sheikh has long since taken to travelling around in a white Rolls Royce. The Flemish photographer Wouter Deruytter was permitted unique access to the very closed Arab palace culture, which generally is accessible only for family members. He recorded the community of businessmen who have become rich on oil, surrounded by their Western paraphernalia. But behind this modern façade lies the traditional Arab for whom the performance of his race horses still matters more than the closing prices on Wall Street.
