Organized by the "House of Beau Gallery" in collaboration with "Janet Rady Fine Art," the landmark exhibition 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 event features iconic works by artists from the Casablanca Group, which shaped Morocco's artistic evolution during the 1960s and 1970s 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 skins, and henna.
The aim of this exhibition is to pay tribute to the Casablanca School, which was a pioneer of Moroccan modernity and has received significant international recognition, Founding Director of "House of Beau," Othmane Benlamine, told MAP.
The event highlights the new generation of artists who have been inspired by the Casablanca school and showcases new orientations such as Mahi Binebine and Mohamed Anzaoui, he added.
The event features works by artists of the new generation "who share poignant reflections on the human condition and the myriad experiences that shape Moroccan society."
The graphic works of emerging artists from Morocco and its diaspora, such as Reda Boudina and Kamil Bouzoubaa-Grivel, are also being showcased. 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 1950s 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 the digital and physical realms, drawing inspiration from graphic patterns and Japanese comics.
By showcasing a range of techniques and styles through established and emerging artists, the exhibition aims to act as a platform for cultural exchange between Morocco and the UK, introducing London enthusiasts to the Kingdom's artistic ecosystem.