Benedikt Renč: Cairo

The Czech photographer travelled to Cairo together with nostalgic, childhood memories and a precise intention for his project. Once there, he found himself caught up in the whirlwind of the Egyptian capital, which called his initial expectations into question. Day after day, the urban colossus revealed its story, its vibrancy and its secrets, whilst hurtling full speed towards the future. Renč’s images are fleeting snapshots that interweave the past with the present.

The Pyramids of Giza are located just 15 kilometres away from downtown Cairo. As the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that remain intact to this day, they offer posterity unique insight into Egypt’s magnificent cultural history. Over the centuries, a city of millions has grown up under their shadow – Cairo, the metropolis that also captivated photographer Benedikt Renč. “I wanted to document the last generation still living in this raw, unpolished reality. The next generation will grow up in modern buildings, in a completely different world,” he explains.

A city is like an organism: it is subject to constant transformation, driven by social, economic and ecological forces. In Cairo there is no stopping progress either. Certainly, the Pyramids stand on the horizon as representatives of ancient history; but daily culture, the atmosphere on the streets, the many small shops and markets can, at any moment, be obliged to give way to a new neighbourhood, underground station or hotel. As the largest metropolitan area on the African continent, Cairo counted around 25 million citizens in 2025. And the number is increasing. Migration away from rural regions is fuelling this growth, as well as the city’s geographical location, which imposes relatively few natural limits on the city’s expansion. The government is attempting to counter the urban density by building new neighbourhoods and even entire cities, such as the planned city of New Cairo. However, so-called informal settlements – in other words, unauthorised urban areas – are also growing steadily. In these areas, residents suffer from a lack of infrastructure, services and administration.

Renč took a strategic approach to his work on the series – a clear plan was essential. The structured process that defines his commercial and editorial approach was transferred to his documentary efforts. He believes that it is crucial to anticipate developments and to get as close to people as possible. “You have to ask questions, be present, and be prepared to go beyond a position of pure observation. The closer you come, the more the city begins to reveal itself,” he summarises. In order to dive fully into urban life, the photographer consciously chose to use a wide-angle lens for his series. This forced him to bridge any distance to his motifs and to enter into conversations with the people.

Renč’s images represent an eye-witness account that illustrates the city’s transience as much as its permanence – far beyond romanticised imaginings. Cairo revealed itself to him as larger and more diverse than he had thought. “The city constantly challenged my expectations. Every day it presented me with something I hadn’t imagined, something that didn’t fit into the picture I had brought with me,” he remembers. It is precisely these contradictions that define the character of the metropolis. The photographer captures moments of an urban reality that is constantly changing. After all, much that seems par for the course today may well have disappeared by tomorrow. 

Benedikt Renč’s series was submitted by Adolf Zika, who is part of this year’s group of international LOBA nominators.