Moroccan Talent at the Dakar Biennale
In a significant cultural event for Morocco, renowned artists Safaa Bouhchichi and M'barek Bouhchichi are set to participate in the prestigious Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Art, which is scheduled to take place from November 19 to December 19. This year's edition, themed (Anti)Fragility: Arts of Repair and Counter-Shock Strategies, will showcase the works of artists under the artistic direction of Morad Montazami.
The Dakar Biennale, commonly referred to as Dak’Art, holds the distinction of being the oldest and most prominent contemporary art biennale on the African continent. It is exclusively dedicated to artists from Africa and its extensive diaspora, making it a vital platform for cultural expression and artistic innovation.
A Rich Cultural History
Initially conceived in 1990 as a biennial festival alternating between literature and visual arts, Dak’Art officially shifted its focus to contemporary visual arts in 1992. The format, emphasizing African contemporary art, was solidified in 1996. The biennale is deeply influenced by Senegal’s founding president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, a poet and key figure in the Négritude movement. Senghor’s vision placed cultural patronage at the heart of national identity, establishing Dakar as a pivotal hub for post-colonial, pan-African intellectual discourse and artistic production.
Safaa Bouhchichi, born in 1976 in Tetouan, is a graduate of the Institut national des Beaux-Arts in Tetouan, where she completed her studies in 1998. Her artistic practice is characterized by an exploration of the color white and the physical properties of various materials. Bouhchichi's works, which include paper art and installations, utilize diverse materials such as cotton paper, Japanese paper, pins, needles, razor blades, metal threads, cotton gauze, and fiberglass. This interplay between the fragility of paper and the rigidity of certain materials creates visually compelling works that embody physical tension and restraint.
Meanwhile, M'barek Bouhchichi, born in 1975 in Akka, delves into the representation and perception of the Black body within Moroccan society. His artistic endeavors span sculpture, drawing, painting, and installation, with the body serving as a central motif. His recurring visual vocabulary—comprising hands, faces, imprints, and fragments—invites viewers to engage with complex themes of identity, memory, visibility, and cultural transmission. Bouhchichi's practice is profoundly rooted in materiality, reflecting on cultural heritage and the collective narratives that shape the place of the Black body in social consciousness. He currently resides and works in Tahannaout, Morocco.
As reported by middle-east-online.com.
