Ayman Yossri Daydban (b. 1966) is a Palestinian-Saudi artist whose multidisciplinary practice revolves around the deconstruction of various national narratives with the approach of a watchman or guard. This term translates into English from the artist's Arabic last name and mirrors his approach to questions about existence, identity and belonging relating to cultural heritage, national integration, the East/West global melting pot of influence and inter-dependence and the difficulties in assimilation and translation of divergent customs and traditions.
Daydban has had numerous solo exhibitions including: Give Me The Light, Athr, Jeddah (2016); Common Grounds, Sabrina Amrani, Madrid (2014); I am Anything, I am Everything, Athr, Jeddah (2012); Identity, Selma Ferinani, London (2011). He launched his first public art project, Change, on billboards across Dubai and Sharjah during Art Dubai (2013).
His recent group shows include: " Awwal Bait, First House” ,the Islamic Arts Biennale ( 2023); "We Dream of New Horizons" in Noor Riyadh,KSA, (2022); " What Lies Within" at Maraya in AlUla,KSA,( 2022); "Crossing the River by Tracking the Stones" Diriyah Biennale,in the JAX district of Diriyah, Riyadh, KSA (2021); Here, Now Riyadh, Misk art ins. KSA, (2021); "Light Upon Light" in Noor Al Riyadh, Riyadh, KSA (2021); Durational Portrait; a brief overview of video art in Saudi Arabia, Athr gallery, Jeddah KSA (2020); Eyes East Bound, Cairo Biennale, Cairo, Egypt (2019); Out of Place, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, KSA (2019); Opening Remarks, Athr Gallery, Jeddah,KSA, The Clocks Are Striking Thirteen, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, KSA (2018); EpicenterX: Contemporary Saudi Art, Arab American National Museum, Detroit (2017); The Language of Human Consciousness, Athr, Jeddah (2014); The Aftermath (curated by Basak Senova at Akbank), Art Center, Istanbul (2013); Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam, The British Museum, London (2012); Tesselation Make Up, Galerie Zilberman, Istanbul (2012); The State, Traffic Gallery, Dubai (2011).
He has showcased his work in numerous Edge of Arabia group shows including: Transition, Istanbul (2010); The Future of a Promise, Venice Biennale (2011); Terminal, Dubai (2011); We Need To Talk, Jeddah (2012); #COMETOGETHER, London (2012).
Ayman Yossri Daydban is part of the permanent collections of the Guggenheim Museum, Centre Pompidou, British Museum, Al-Mansouria Foundation, the Abdul Latif Jameel Foundation, BASMOCA, the Salsali Private Museum in Dubai and the Greenbox Museum in Amsterdam. He is also part of MAAN initiative, artist to artist relief fund program in respond to Covid-19 Pandemic.