Critical Dialogue on Marrakech Biennale 6: Curatorial Strategies and Postcolonial Politics
Independent Curators International (ICI) and The Exhibitionist journal hosted a curatorial seminar focusing on the 6th Marrakech Biennale, titled 'Not New Now,' which ran from February 28 to May 8, 2016, under the curation of Reem Fadda. The event took place at significant historical venues such as Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace. Moderated by Julian Myers-Szupinska, participants including María del Carmen Carrión, Mohamed Elshahed, Renaud Proch, Eszter Szakács, and İpek Ulusoy engaged in discussions about the exhibition's approach to contemporary art. They examined critical topics like the representation of African-American artists and the Casablanca School's blend of modernist and contemporary pieces. The biennale also explored migration and postcolonial narratives through works by Superflex and Kader Attia, with Tarek Atoui's performance at Bahia Palace emphasizing themes of decolonization and creativity in the Maghreb.
Key facts
- Marrakech Biennale 6 titled 'Not New Now' ran from February 28 to May 8, 2016
- Curated by Palestinian curator Reem Fadda
- Staged across multiple sites: Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, Menara Gardens, Dar Si Said Museum, Koutoubia Mosque
- Featured an exhibition-within-an-exhibition on the Casablanca School curated by Salma Lahlou and Fatima-Zahra Lakrissa
- Included works by artists such as Eric Van Hove, Sam Gilliam, Al Loving, Melvin Edwards, Yto Barrada, Mona Hatoum, and Kader Attia
- No catalog or introductory text; mediation relied on site-specific pamphlets
- Held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI
- Dialogue participants included curators and researchers from Independent Curators International and The Exhibitionist
Entities
Artists
- Reem Fadda
- Julian Myers-Szupinska
- María del Carmen Carrión
- Mohamed Elshahed
- Renaud Proch
- Eszter Szakács
- İpek Ulusoy
- Eric Van Hove
- Salma Lahlou
- Fatima-Zahra Lakrissa
- Sam Gilliam
- Al Loving
- Melvin Edwards
- Omar Berrada
- Yto Barrada
- Abderrahman al-Majdoub
- Sara Ouhaddou
- Ahmed Bouanani
- Mona Hatoum
- Khalil Rabah
- Oscar Murillo
- Lynda Benglis
- The Otolith Group
- Superflex
- Kader Attia
- Bouchra Khalili
- Tarek Atoui
- Pablo Picasso
- Romare Bearden
- Massimiliano Gioni
- Okwui Enwezor
Institutions
- Independent Curators International (ICI)
- The Exhibitionist
- British Museum
- tranzit.hu
- ArteEast Quarterly
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
- Venice Biennale
- ARTMargins Online
- Independent Curators International
- Marrakech Biennale
Locations
- Marrakech
- Morocco
- Oakland
- California
- United States
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Budapest
- Hungary
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Bahia Palace
- El Badi Palace
- Menara Gardens
- Dar Si Said Museum
- Koutoubia Mosque
- Casablanca
- Comoro Islands
- Indian Ocean
- Anjouan
- Mayotte
- France
- Europe
- Greece
- Mexico
- Africa
- Libya
- Gulf
- Middle East
- Maghreb
- Arab world
- South
- sub-Saharan Africa
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —