El Fenn X 154 African Art Fair

 

Our favourite art fair is about to begin – and this year we’re filling El Fenn with work by some of the continent’s brightest talents

 

From a curation of work by one of the world’s top Arabic art experts to an installation that merges play, craftsmanship and culture, El Fenn will be filled with inspiration during the upcoming edition of the 154 Contemporary African Art Fair.

 

Because while we always host a new exhibition during 1-54, we wanted to create a more immersive experience this year. Everything from art that’s been painted on our walls to become a part of El Fenn, to installation, painting and film, will be on show during this year’s 1-54 which runs February 5th – 8th. You’ll get the chance to meet the artists, listen to talks as well as make an appointment to have bespoke ‘art-as-fashion’ made at a pop up salon we’re creating. 

 

Between Skies and Lands – Curated by Abdellah Karroum

 

Abdellah Karroum is a curator, writer and educator. He is the founder and artistic director of a number of art initiatives, including L’appartement 22 in Rabat, and has worked for major institutions, most recently the Director of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha and Special Curatorial Advisor for Qatar Museums (2013-2022). To mark our continued dedication to african art and the 1-54, he is curating an exhibition of work by five exciting artists from Rabat’s L’appartement 22 art space which will be shown in our private dining room. 

Between Skies and Lands features pieces by Oumayma Abouzid, Mustapha Akrim, Gabriella Ciancimino, Mohssin Harraki, and Syl Pâris Kouton that together celebrate a “Terrestrial Community” in movement, between conventions and transcendence of cultures.

The title of the exhibition comes from a saying used in Amazigh stories to describe someone, or something, that is not yet settled in place – “between sky and land”.

In her paintings for instance, young Moroccan artist Oumayma Abouzid examines a fictional landscape that merges the Rif Mountains with the fluidity of the Mediterranean. Mustpha Akrim, who was born in Salé and now lives in Rabat, questions the nature of work and the difference between construction and creating art in his art. “Construction (Al Hurriya)” is from a series he made using building materials, concrete and steel. Drawing, collage, painting and film will also be shown in the Between Skies and Lands exhibition.

You can meet Abdellah Karroum at El Fenn on Friday 6th February 4-6pm and Saturday 7th February 4-6pm. Enter the exhibition via the boutique entrance. 

 

 

Playful Stack Up – Sophia Kacimi

Over in the boutique, Playful Stack Up by French-Moroccan creative Sophia Kacimi will feature three giant dolls made of stackable cubic modules that viewers can interact with. She creates her work in collaboration with artisans and  Playful Stack Up features the brocade upholstery fabrics traditionally used in Moroccan interiors but now repurposed for an installation that intersects craft, art and play..

The former merchandiser for Chanel and Louis Vuitton also uses these fabrics to create ‘art-to-wear’ for her fashion label Zoubida. And we’ll be creating a very special pop-up salon where you can meet Sophia on appointment to have a jacket made from her collection of beautiful vintage fabrics. Each jacket is unique and will be made to your bespoke measurements. 

To make an appointment at Sophia’s salon on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th 3-6pm please book your slot via email here.

 

The Inner Garden – Rita Alaoui

 

Renowned multidisciplinary Moroccan artist Rita Alaoui has also created a series of large-scale murals that she painted onto the walls of our main entrance corridors to backdrop The Inner Garden – seven paintings that celebrate the power of nature. Stepping into El Fenn, you’ll be immersed in her colourful world as you move between interior and exterior space, real and imagined gardens. You can find out more about her extraordinary immersive installation here. 

You can meet Rita Alaoui at El Fenn on Friday 6th February 4-6pm and Saturday 7th February 4-6pm. Entrance through the boutique.

 

Attending the 1:54 in Marrakech

Elsewhere in the city, more than 70 artists and 20 galleries will participate in the main 154 exhibition at La Mamounia, as well as partner projects at galleries including DaDA and Loft. Artists from 12 countries will be on show – including renowned contemporary Moroccan names such as Hassan El Glaoui and Amine El Gotaibi, as well as up-and-coming creatives from all over Africa.  There’ll also be a series of events and shows, everywhere from the Bahia Palace to the Agafay desert. You can also get all the details about what’s happening during 154 here.