M’barek Bouhchichi’s ‘Les Graines Noires’ Explores Blackness and Migration at Selma Feriani Gallery
From September 2025, Selma Feriani Gallery will host 'Les Graines Noires,' a solo exhibition featuring the work of M’barek Bouhchichi. This exhibition delves into themes of Blackness and migration, addressing trans-Saharan slavery, the Atlantic slave trade, and modern Afro-Mediterranean movements. Bouhchichi employs plants symbolically to represent survival and dispersal. Featured pieces include 'Herbarium' (2025), 'Stick Charts' (2025), 'Vegetal Man' (2025), 'Boussaadia' (2025), 'Saadia' (2025), 'Seedings' (2025), and 'I Am Here' (2025). The selected materials emphasize ideas of transformation and circulation. Bouhchichi expresses gratitude to craftsmen Yadh Beji, Ezzedine Ben Abdelali, and the Selma Feriani Gallery team. The press release was crafted by Beya Othmani and Omar Berrada.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Les Graines Noires' by M’barek Bouhchichi at Selma Feriani Gallery, September 2025.
- Herbarium (2025) features alabaster engravings of plants from Quilombo Kalunga (Brazil) and Khandaq ar-Rayhan (Morocco).
- Stick Charts (2025) uses brass casts of eucalyptus branches and cowrie shells to map a Sahara crossing.
- Vegetal Man (2025) is a brass sculpture of agave stalks symbolizing sacrifice and rebirth.
- Boussaadia (2025) consists of burnt-wood guembri sculptures referencing Stambeli tradition.
- Saadia (2025) reproduces a Neolithic figurine from Kadruka, Sudan in black Tunisian and white Carrara marble.
- Seedings (2025) uses hargous ink on bark paper to depict pre-colonial West African currency.
- I Am Here (2025) features ceramic jars inscribed with a poem by M’barek Toumi.
- Agave Seeds (2025) is made of nickel silver.
- Black Seeds (2025) presents eight imaginary seeds.
- Bouhchichi thanks Yadh Beji, Ezzedine Ben Abdelali, and Selma Feriani Gallery team.
- Press release by Beya Othmani and Omar Berrada.
Entities
Artists
- M’barek Bouhchichi
- M’barek Toumi
- Beya Othmani
- Omar Berrada
- M'barek Bouhchichi
- M'barek Toumi
Institutions
- Selma Feriani Gallery
- Selma Feriani
- Canvas
Locations
- Brazil
- Quilombo Kalunga
- Morocco
- Khandaq ar-Rayhan
- Chefchaouen
- Tunisia
- Zarzis
- Sudan
- Kadruka
- Mali
- Niger
- Mauritania
- Australia
- Marshall Islands
- Sahel
- Tunis
- Algeria
- Maghreb
- Mediterranean
- Sahara Desert
- Atlantic
- North Africa
- West Africa
- Italy
- Carrara