M'barek Bouhchichi's 'Who I Am, Who We Are' at L'Atelier 21

From May 27 to July 5, 2025, L'Atelier 21 in Casablanca, Morocco, will host the third solo exhibition of visual artist M'barek Bouhchichi, entitled 'Who I Am, Who We Are.' This showcase features striking portraits painted directly on rubber sheets, continuing Bouhchichi’s investigation into themes of art, memory, and politics as forms of symbolic resistance. The artworks highlight members of the Ismgans/Ismkhan community, the origin of many Gnawa musicians, encountered in Khamlia, near Merzouga in northeastern Morocco. The focus is on Black Moroccans, depicted using materials such as bitumen and mica. Art historian Jamila Moroder describes Bouhchichi's work in the exhibition catalogue as a delicate archaeology that blends earth's depths with light and color. His pieces are part of esteemed collections, including the Musée National d'Art Moderne (France) and the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Morocco). Bouhchichi resides and creates in Tahannaout, Morocco.