Landmark Moroccan art exhibition kicks off in London

LONDON - “The Casablanca Art School & Beyond l A New Moroccan Generation” group exhibition kicked off Tuesday at Cromwell Place in London with thirty-five artworks by ten prominent figures of the Moroccan artistic landscape, from the 1960s to the present day.

The landmark exhibition, which is being held from May 28 to June 2, offers a captivating glimpse into the Moroccan artistic landscape from the 1960s to the present day, with a spotlight on a new generation of multidisciplinary and innovative Moroccan artists.

The exhibition commences with iconic works by artists from the Casablanca Group, which shaped Morocco's artistic evolution during the 60’s and 70’s and were renowned for their bold departure from Western artistic conventions. This era witnessed the emergence of a new form of abstraction, infused with geometric shapes and materials inspired by Moroccan craftsmanship, such as copper, animal skin, or henna.

The show continues with a special showcase of work by artists from the new generation notably Mahi Binebine and Mohamed Anzaoui, both influenced by the Casablanca movement and its social commitment. Despite the diversity of their artistic backgrounds, Binebine and Anzaoui share poignant reflections on the human condition and the myriad of experiences shaping Moroccan society.

Binebine is regarded as one of the most prolific Moroccan artists, with his books being translated in over fifteen languages and his works featured in the most prestigious museums and collections worldwide.

Mahi Binebine's work delves into the complexities of the human experience, often using powerful metaphors to depict imprisonment, both physical and psychological.

His work captures the extremes of human existence, reflecting contemporary struggles with intensity. His use of turquoise blue adds depth and introspection to his paintings, symbolising the inner turmoil and challenges faced by his subjects.

Through his work, Binebine invites viewers to confront existential questions about confinement, isolation, and resilience.

Anzaoui's paintings whisk viewers away into a dreamscape where everything is conceivable amidst the sky, sea, and earth. Colours blend seamlessly, from acrylics to a myriad of pigments, applied with a variety of techniques onto the canvas, hence creating surfaces that are sometimes smooth, textured, or rugged. His artworks serve as a reflection on humanity and its emotions, nature and its landscapes, and the interplay between them. Woven into his ethereal compositions, the four elements - water, earth, fire, and air - act as recurring motifs that he artfully explores across his canvases. This poetic realm beckons viewers to embark on the artist's introspective voyage.

Concluding the exhibition are showcased graphic works by two emerging artists, Reda Boudina and Kamil Bouzoubaa-Grivel, from Morocco and its diaspora. Their works challenge our perception of surface and depth, using unique techniques and unconventional materials such as concrete, plexiglass, metal, or oil-based ink in their compositions.

Inspired by the quintessential brutalist architectural movement originating in the UK in the 50s and prevalent in Moroccan urban landscape, Boudina uses concrete as a primary material, blending it with other mediums in original compositions.

Meanwhile, Bouzoubaa-Grivel explores a novel approach to drawing that blurs the boundaries between digital and physical realms, drawing inspiration from graphic patterns and Japanese comics.

By presenting a range of techniques and styles across established and emerging artists, the exhibition strives to reflect the richness and vitality of the contemporary art scene in Morocco.