Tangier: Books and art to celebrate the return of spring

More than a book fair, a real artistic and literary festival with concerts, workshops for children, theatre. This year, the Book and Arts Fair in Tangier has chosen to put on its spring clothes and renew its program for the summer season. For its 22nd edition, it becomes the "Spring of the Book and Arts of Tangier" and is more inclusive by diversifying the proposed activities, from April 19 to 22, at the Palace of the Italian Institutions and other places in Tangier

"An event, whatever it is, must be renewed since it decreases after a certain number of years. We wanted to give it a new birth hence the choice of 'spring', a symbol of regeneration," explains Jerome Migayrou, director of the French Institute of Tangier who organises the show in partnership with the Tangier Region Cultural Action Association.

This change will not only be aesthetic, since it also accompanies a new approach and a more varied program that includes concerts, workshops for children, screenings or theater. "Thanks to the abundance of activities and disciplines offered, everyone will be able to choose their activity in relation to what interests them the most."

The Palace of Italian Institutions will bring together the stands of different publishing houses and bookstores in the city, but other parts of the city will also host the many events of this event. The show will be held in schools, colleges and high schools, as well as at the Cinémathèque de Tangier, where Moroccan and French films and documentaries such as "Braguino" (2017) by Clément Cogitore will be screened.

For this new format, the show launches the first edition of "Tangier Arts Tour", a circuit that art lovers can follow to visit all the galleries of the city, which have set up 12 exhibitions under the theme of The Encounter. Visitors will find the abstract works of Nourredine Lahrech and Mhamed Cherifi at the Mohamed Drissi Gallery, the architectural photographs of Hicham Gardaf at the Delacroix Gallery, the anonymous portraits of Jaimal Odera at the American Legation, or the surprising paintings of Abdelkader Melehi at the Dar art gallery.

The Photoloft, Mahal art space, Conil, Artingis, Ibn Khaldoun, Conil Volubilis, Medina Art galleries and the Les insolites bookshop will exhibit the works of artists from Morocco and elsewhere throughout the Salon.

After celebrating youth in 2017 , the show chose this year to focus on "The Meeting - the other's own". This theme will be explored through the many round tables animated by one of the mainly Moroccan authors and experts, notably Driss Ksikes, Jalil Bennani, Abdessamad Dialmy, Fouad Laroui, Sana El Aji or Abdelfattah Kilito.

"We wanted to explore the importance of the other, of those who are different from us to show that this difference is fundamental in our society and that as long as we try to standardize behavior, cultural proposals ... we are impoverishing the world," explains Migayrou.

Always in this festival spirit, several concerts and musical readings are planned during this show in the Palace of the Italian Institutions. Rapper Muslim and singer Hamid Elhadri will ignite the palace scene on April 20, after a musical reading of Eric Reinhardt's "The Room of the Spouses" and Melodie Richard.

The next day, the evening will begin with a recital of poetry with Abdellatif Laâbi, followed by the concert of the mythical group Gnawa Diffusion. Finally, the classical music will close the show with the meeting of the Ukrainian pianist Nathalia Romanenko and the French writer Marek Halter who will tell the story of the fate of three women in Islam.

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Moroccan Artist Laila Benhalima

Mention Moroccan contemporary art and the names that come to mind are people such as Achraf Touloub, Younès Rahmoun, Fathiya Tahiri and Mahi Binebine. Now add the name Laila Benhalima to that list. Laila currently has an exhibition on in Rabat. It is certainly worth a visit

She dances around "those colourful stars that cannot shine without darkness"

Laila Benhalima is a Moroccan artist born in Rabat. She has been recognised for a many years as having a prestigious talent which this exhibition certainly displays.

Since a very young age, Laila has been living in her own world and found a way to communicate through her art. The natural world - especially the lush, fertile landscape and energy originating from her North African culture - evokes for her a personal response that is full of so much energy showcasing with her African abstract paintings, the vibrant colours, history, and imagery of one of the world's most alluring continents.

While Laila is in action painting some her most complex and beautiful pieces, she dances around "those colourful stars that cannot shine without darkness".

 Laila is a woman of high energy, passion and she is always eager to share her deep thoughts with the world through her painting. She examines how complex our universe is and how she can turn sadness, loneliness and darkness into unconditional love - something that the world needs today more than ever before.

Laila is Pharmacist by profession and Artist and Coach at heart.  One of her goals has been not only promoting peace and love through Art, but also to encourage students to become involved in art in the hope that they can achieve their own recognition as promising artists.

Her influence as an Artist-woman has been widely felt, and had a positive impact throughout her community around her native country Morocco. This exhibition adds to her stature. It is hoped the exhibition can travel to Fez sometime in the future, inshallah.

The exhibition at the Nadira Gallery (11 rue Soussa, Centre Ville, Rabat) continues until March 15.

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Philippe Laleu Exhibition Opening Night

Traces of a Journey, an exhibition by French artist Philippe Lauleu, opened last night at the French Institute in Fez's Ville Nouvelle.

The body of work was created in Japan more than 20 years ago, but remains contemporary and relevant.  The theme, explained Laleu, is about the Japanese relationship with landscape and the nearness of death. "They know they are trying to stay on a shaking fish; that any moment could be their last."

The intriguing works are executed either on fragments of old kimonos, or canvas, and feature anatomy, maps and features of the landscape. "I was working in Kobe during the big earthquake they had there, and more than 6,500 people disappeared." The poignancy of people searching for their loved ones, who had been literally lost in the landscape, stayed with him and became the theme of this exhibition.

Laleu has had a long record as an artist, and was also the Director of the French Institute between 2005 and 2015. He now lives in Fez, and finds constant inspiration in the ancient medina.

It will be intriguing to see his future works about Fez.

Traces of a Journey exhibition runs until the end of March at the French Institute Gallery, 33 Rue Ahmed Loukili, Ville Nouvelle, Fez. For further info CLICK HERE. 

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Africa of the Africans - Fez Gathering Opens

Thursday evening saw the opening of the 3rd Fez Gathering. The opening took place at the ALIF Riad in Batha and was well attended.   Omar Chennafi and his team are to be congratulated on bringing a diverse range of artists, photographers and performers together

Omar Chennafi  - the man with the vision

The audience was welcomed by Omar Chennafi and fellow team member, Meryem Lahrichi, who thanked the key workers.  Omar went on to thank the sponsors and partners of the Fez Gathering.

The next couple of days promise a string of events that should prove interesting to both art practitioners and the general public. Entry to all sessions is free.

Between 9am and 10.30 on Friday there is a panel discussion on photography and documentary in Africa,  chaired by Frank Vellenger, a photographer from the Netherlands. The panel includes US Fulbright scholar, Tina Barouti,  Rabat photographer, M'hammed Kilito and Berlin based artists, Benjamin Füglister and Eva Maria Ocherbauer.

The second roundtable discussion of the morning begins at 11 on the topic of Ritual Practice and Sufism in Africa.  Panelists include psychologists, anthropologists and the Tijani spiritual leader  Sidi Brahim Tidjani. It promises to be an interesting discussion.

Both roundtables will take place at Dar Batha, 15 Derb Salaj (directly opposite the Hotel Batha).

At 3pm there is an African fashion show at the ALIF Riad.

You can see the full programme here: Fez Gathering 

German Designer Artist Sarah Kunze has an installation at Cafe Clock. Sarah has been working in the village of Sefrou with Culture Vultures.

German Designer Artist Sarah Kunze has a "flying carpet" project

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Is The Party Over For The Marrakech Biennale?

The Marrakech, initially scheduled in February 2018, has been postponed indefinitely Meanwhile, the brilliant critic of Cameroonian art, Christine Eyene, has been appointed curator of the next edition of the Biennale of Casablanca, scheduled for October 2018

The Marrakech Biennale has run into problems over funding and its image as a "party event", an image that has upset many locals.

"There is no money," says Amine Kabbaj, executive chairman of the event. I have written twice to His Majesty, I do not know how to awaken people to the highest level. Culture is not the priority of this government. "

Founded 13 years ago by Britain's Vanessa Branson (sister of Richard Branson, patron of Virgin group), the event managed to raise 900,000 euros from Moroccan sponsors in 2016. The edition led by Palestinian exhibition commissioner Reem Fadda was high quality and had a record attendance of 100,000 visitors. The choice of the excellent Moroccan exhibition curator Mouna Mekouar to orchestrate the next edition presaged the best.

But today is the time of the accounts. And, for the first time, the Biennale has a deficit of about 300,000 euros. Worse, it alienated the local community. "It is a biennial that has been made for foreigners and not for Moroccans," says Yasmina Naji, director of the gallery and Kulte Art Centre in Rabat. "Much money was spent in festive events, private parties, and very little on the production of works. The Biennale was poorly managed."

The cancellation is a blow to the contemporary art fair 1:54, which had voluntarily grafted on its calendar to organise its first edition in Marrakech. "I am sad that the Biennale is rejected, but I am convinced that it is only partly handed over," says Touria El-Glaoui, its director. "It seems all the more essential to launch 1:54 Marrakech and to offer an international exhibition of quality to the Moroccan public."

1:54 is a leading African art fair and after a successful third edition in New York in May 2017, the fair will return for its fifth London edition from the 5-8th October 2017.

Amine Kabbaj said she wanted to try everything for the end of November, with the organisation by the Moroccan Art Works Company (CMOOA), in a large hotel in Marrakech, of a charity sale of works donated by the artists. " It's not serious, now ask artists to fund the Biennale!"  says Yasmina Naji. "In any case, a biennale does not come up in a few months. Finally, we must understand the necessity of placing cultural management professionals at the head of this event."

Meanwhile in Casablanca...

Mostapha Romli, the founding president of the International Biennial of Casablanca, has named Christine Eyene the artistic director of the exhibition’s fourth edition, which will kick off in October 2018.

Founded in 2012, the biennial aims to create dialogue between Moroccan and African artists and the international art scene.

Christine Eyene

Eyene is a research fellow in contemporary art at the University of Central Lancashire, where she works on “Making Histories Visible,” an interdisciplinary visual arts research project led by artist and professor Lubaina Himid. She is also the cofounder of YaPhoto, a photography platform based in Yaounde, Cameroon. More recently, she organised the touring exhibition “Sounds Like Her,” which showcases women’s practices in music and sound art, opening at New Art Exchange in Nottingham in October 2017.

“It is in Morocco that I took my first steps in contemporary art many years ago,” Eyene said. “I am delighted at the opportunity to develop a large-scale project bridging Morocco and Africa with diverse international art contexts.”

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Fez Gathering - International Artists to Meet in Fez

International Artists will be gathering in Fez from the 12th to 15th of  January 2017. The aim of the meeting is to exchange knowledge between local and international arts organisations.

"The city of Fez is an ideal venue as it represents a meeting point of peoples, cultures and ideas. The spiritual homeland of characters including Ibn Arabi and Ibn Khaldun, its streets preserve the memory of some of the greatest thinkers and creatives in history. At the core of al-andalus, it represents a bridge between the Islamic World and Europe. It has been a place for advancement of the sciences and arts as we know them. Today, its heart is still beating.The International Artists’ Gathering seeks to exchange knowledge between local and international arts organisations for the development of a sacred arts programme in Fez which preserves and represents its unique spirit." - Fez Gathering

Exhibition curator, Pascual Jorden and Friedrich Prinz zur Lippe, the Son of Rudolph zur Lippe (one of the exhibition artists), were in Fez last week to inspect the locations for the gathering and to meet up with cultural institutions such as the ALC and IFF and other local cultural association.

Friedrich Prinz zur Lippe,Omar Chennafi and Pascual Jorden

Fez photographer Omar Chennafi is the founder and director of the Fez Gathering. He visited Pascual Jorden in Berlin last year and, after seeing his exhibition, invited him to bring part of the show to Fez. Omar also connected with another German photographer, Evi Blink, who agreed to become one of the German partners of the project. In Fez, the gathering is also supported by the ALC (American Language Center.)

The provisional programme

12th of January at 6:30 PM at ALIF RIAD : The reception and welcoming guest

13th of January at 9:30 AM at Dar Batha : Round Table, " the Arts in the Time of Crises " Panels /Contemporary Art, Photographer and Documentary

13th of January at 6:30 PM at Fes Saiss association Dar Pacha Tazi : Exhibition Opening

14th of January at 9:30 AM Dar Batha : Round Table, " the Arts in the Time of Crises " Panels /Art in Education, Art in Islam

15th of January at 10 Am : Historical Tour of the Medina and visiting art and gallery spaces

For more information visit: http://www.fezgathering.com/

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International Artists Gather in Fez

From January 7 - 9, artists from as far afield as Germany, the Netherlands, USA, UK and Spain, as well as Morocco, will be sharing their work and ideas at the International Artist's Gathering in Fez 

As well as a showing of artists' work, there will be a panel discussion on Fine Art Photography, Art in Sufism, and Contemporary Art. Organised by photographer Omar Chennafi the two day symposium will take place at the ALIF Riad. All are welcome. For further details, see www.fezgathering.com

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Marrakech Museum for Photography & Visual Arts ~ Scholarship Programme

The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts in partnership with the University of Arizona, The American Institute for Maghrib Studies, La Fondation Jardin Majorelle, La Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent and the Global Initiative Foundation, invite applications for the second edition of the prestigious Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts scholarship Programme

The objective of this programme is to promote knowledge about photography, visual arts, museum education and management and curatorial studies. Offering the opportunity to many applicants to benefit from it, the selection will be made from university students and professionals working in Moroccan cultural institutions. The program will therefore allow its participants to observe and actively engage in a wide variety of museum and school partnerships, that integrate museum collections and exhibitions with language development and writing in primary grades through university.

The candidates will be happy to know that the Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts Scholarship will also provide full funding for transportation and a three-week training session on the University of Arizona campus, as well as field trips to other museums in Arizona and Los Angeles, California.

For more info, go to: Scholarship Programme

Mounir Fatmi's "The Blindfold"

Visit the Marrakech Museum and check out its latest exhibition. Traces of the Future, May 1 to Sept. 30, 2015

“Traces of the Future" brings together seven artists: Leila Alaoui, Younes Baba-Ali, Amina Benbouchta, he exhibition “Traces of the Future brings together seven artists: Leila Alaoui, Younes Baba-Ali, Amina Benbouchta, Mounir Fatmi Ahmed Hajoubi, Jamila Lamrani Abdelaziz Zerrou.

“Traces of the Future” is based on artworks that combine social observations with an involvement in issues that constitute the major challenges of tomorrow’s society. The exhibition is a celebration of the Moroccan contemporary art with visionary overtones.

Indeed, “Traces of the Future” sets a reference system for the works and the public, as they share the same a socio-cultural, political and critical background. These artists tackle familiar themes, maintaining a constant navigation between imaginary worlds and everyday realities. They deal with challenges to physical and mental barriers, stories of migration experiences, unveiling of some contradictions of our time, as well as the invention of activists and poetic languages.

Artists of “Traces of the Future” reflect a world where meaning springs from the alliance of contrasting realities. As such, the expression “Traces of the future” is a figure of speech or an effect, by which contradictory terms are used in conjunction. Ahmed Hajoubi, Jamila Lamrani Abdelaziz Zerrou.

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Art on Show in Sefrou Today

Artist Amberlea McNaught with one of the pieces she created during the residency

Today, Saturday April 18, from 3 pm to 6 pm in Sefrou, you can see the latest results from the Culture Vulture artist's residency program. In Fondouk Huddadine is a series of small "open studios", with artists on hand to talk about their work

Organiser Jess Stephens says that the Culture Vulture's fifth residency program is all about contemporary artists connecting with artisans using traditional methods. "The artisans are often surprised at the artists' skill with tools, their motivation to learn, and the way they apply the techniques," she says.

Two artists who stayed for the whole five week residency were Amberlea McNaught, above, from the UK, and Kristy Morgan from Australia. Other artists who joined them for shorter periods were Sander Wassink from Holland and Cristina Noguer, from Spain.

Plaster containers made by Amberlea McNaught

Amberlea is a ceramist from Sheffield, who occasionally works with leather. She says that the experience of working with master artisan plasterer Abdul Razzak Bahij "blew my socks off". From Fez, he has more than 35 years experience, and has worked on major projects including the Islamic Art exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum. "His technique was simple, but it was his speed and precision that were amazing," she says.

During her residency Amberlea was taught to carve blocks of plaster. "I learned everything through chisel, hand and eye, as we couldn't speak the same language...Before I came here I thought it (plaster carving) was a sacred art that is dead, but it is very much alive. The money is bad, but I love it so much, I don't care about the money."

Local artisan Rachid Farrouch with leatherworker Kristy Morgan and some of her work

Kristy Morgan, from Brisbane, is a leatherworker who makes bags, leather jewellery and shoes. She worked with two sets of artisans during her residency, including Rachid Farrouch. "At the beginning communication was difficult," he says. "However, as we went along we started to understand each other's ways of working and it became more of an exchange...I taught her the techniques I knew, and I was surprised at the way she (Kristy) applied them."

Shoes by Kristy Morgan

While Kristy enjoyed the experience of working with Rachid, she says working with the shoe "malaam", or master artisan, was more difficult, due to the attitude of his apprentices. "I had to push. They didn't understand I wanted to do things myself. They tried to do them for me." She feels gender also played a part. "Even in Australia, being a female leatherworker is not all that common." However she did succeed in making two pairs of shoes.

Kristy found her visit to the Fez tanneries eye-opening. "The conditions they were in gave me a totally new respect for the process. They work really hard."

Jess Stephens from Culture Vultures at the first open studio day

When: Saturday April 18 from 3 pm to 6 pm
Where: Fondouk Huddadine, Sefrou Medina. (Turn left at the river, and left again at the "junk" market, and then first right and ask for the Fondouk. If you get lost, phone 06 45 22 32 03.) 
Info: Culture Vultures CLICK HERE

Artists' websites: Kristy Morgan - rubyandprankstar.blogspot.com; Amberlea McNaught - terrapotter.co.uk


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Artists' Work on Show in Sefrou

In the Sefrou Medina on Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18 from 3 pm to 6 pm, check out the innovative results of the latest Culture Vulture artists' residency. We will be bringing you a full report tomorrow 

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MARRAKECH BIENNALE - 6th Edition March 2016

The 6th edition of the Marrakech Biennale will take place from March 2nd to 28th, 2016. It will take place on three emblematic places in Marrakech; the "Badii Palace", "Bank Al Maghreb" and the Palace "Dar El Bacha".

The 5th edition of the Marrakech Biennale took place, from February 28 to March 30, 2014, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and was attended by over 450 artists including more than 100 Moroccan artists,and over 30,000 visitors. This  result is of great significance to Marrakech and is welcomed by the Municipality of Marrakech and local authorities, such as the Ministry of Culture, who are both supporting the event with an annual grant.

However this grant remains a very small part of the budget. Despite private donations, the team is now tackling the challenge to find sufficient funds to ensure a continuance of the Biennale.

After 10 years, the Marrakech Biennale is undoubtedly an essential link in the current cultural
and artistic life of the Red City.  For its sixth edition it has chosen the theme Traces and will examine the importance of culture and art and the dialogue between the city’s past, present and future. To do so it will draw on the cultural and African roots of the city: Islamic, Arab, Amazigh, Jewish, African and Iberian.

According to Executive President Mohamed Amine Kabbaj, digital and visual arts will be used in public spaces in order to interact between different disciplines; between the artist and the public; between the artist and the urban space. "This dialogue will be the cornerstone in the anchoring of these works, in our urban landscape, as well as ensuring their capacity to remain illusory", he says.

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Artists and Artisans On Show This Week

The results of the AiR Artisan month long artists' residencies come to fruition this week. On Tuesday a round table discussion about artisanship will be held in Fez, while on Friday and Saturday, ten international female artists will have their work on show in Sefrou

Artwork by Australian artist Camilla Hall

During September, the AiR Artisan project, initiated by Jess Stephen's Culture Vultures, saw ten female artists from Spain to Japan take up residencies to develop their artistic work. The program they pursued involved academic presentations, art workshops, regional visits and introductions to a wide network of crafts people.

The artists were encouraged to immerse themselves in the community, and offered the opportunity to create work in the medina of Sefrou. On Friday September 26, from 3 - 6 pm, and on Saturday September 27 from 11 - 6 pm, their studios will be open to the public, who can explore what they have created.

Australian interior designer Camilla Hall says she has gained a lot from the residency, and finds Morocco fascinating. "It’s an ever changing and evolving pattern, constructed with complex diversity. This ‘geometry’ of life, here in Morocco, is subtly evolving.’

The round table discussion on Tuesday from 5 pm, on present and future artisanship in Fez, will be led by the son of a craftsman, Hamza El Fasiki. He will facilitate thoughts and perspectives from artisans and their supporters.


What: AiR Artisan Open Studios
When: Fri September 26 (3 - 6 pm) & Sat Sept 27 (11 - 6pm)
Where: Sefrou Medina

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