Maïmouna Guerresi: Sebaätou Rijal & Villes Nouvelles and Ancient Shadows
April 29–September 4, 2023
Aga Khan Park, Rasheed Dhuka and Nooruddin Khawja Family Gallery (formerly the Lower-Level Gallery)
Maïmouna Guerresi is an Italian-Senegalese multimedia artist whose work invites viewers to transcend the physical and connect with the spiritual world.
Presented as part of the CONTACT Photography Festival, two series of Guerresi’s are on display in the Aga Khan Park and the Lower-Level Gallery (tunnel).
Villes Nouvelles and Ancient Shadows
Inspired by the complex history of Marrakesh, this portrait series, which is located in the Aga Khan Park, was created during her 2020 artist residency at the Musée d’Art Contemporain Africain Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakesh. The series merges French colonial architectural style with the traditions, culture, and spirituality of Marrakesh.
The Villes Nouvelles (New Towns) was built during French colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century. Located outside the historic walled city centre, the Villes Nouvelles created a cultural and physical division within the city. For this series, Guerresi uses photos of modern architectural developments inspired by the colonial-era Villes Nouvelles design and introduces shadows into the images. These shadows represent the historical and cultural realities of Marrakesh, brought into the present.
©Maïmouna Guerresi, courtesy Mariane Ibrahim Gallery
“I wanted to fill the void of these sun-drenched urban landscapes by inserting the shadows of hieratic [stylized] human figures, animals, and architectural elements of Islam, understood as spiritual entities returning to reclaim their land.”
– Maïmouna Guerresi
©Maïmouna Guerresi, courtesy Mariane Ibrahim Gallery
Sebaätou Rijal
Inspired by the Seven Saints of Marrakesh, this portrait series, which is located in the lower-level gallery (tunnel), explores how spiritual growth can bring about changes in perspective, breaking down the barriers caused by extreme individualism in today’s world. For centuries, people have been visiting the graves of the Seven Saints to pray for healing and good fortune. Today, a row of seven monuments stand just outside the ancient city walls to commemorate their significance.
The arrangement and colours of the clothing in each portrait refer to the architecture of Marrakesh. This calls attention to how the rejection of individualism leads to a greater connection with one’s environment. The figures evoke a strong sense of spiritual introspection, while the plants they hold point to the wisdom of nature. In this way, the series celebrates the relationship between humanity and the universe.
About the Artist
Maïmouna Guerresi
