Marrakech's Contemporary Art Scene: New Museums, Fair, and Exhibitions

Marrakech has seen a surge in contemporary art activity, including the October opening of the Musée Yves Saint-Laurent, the exhibition 'Africa Is No Island' at MACAAL until August 24, and the first Moroccan edition of the 1:54 African art fair at La Mamounia hotel in February. These developments contrast with the indefinite cancellation of the 2018 Biennale due to lack of funds. MACAAL, the second-largest contemporary art museum in Africa after Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, is a private museum founded by collectors Alami and Othman Lazraq, part of the Fondation Alliances. It offers free admission and community projects. The museum features a memorial to Franco-Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui, killed in a 2016 attack in Burkina Faso. 'Africa Is No Island,' curated by Jeanne Mercier, Baptiste de Ville d'Avray, and Madeleine de Colnet, presents about forty African and diaspora artists exploring themes of family, environment, identity, and borders. Notable works include Lebohang Kganye's family history installations, Mohamed El Baz's neon 'Love Supreme,' and pieces by Italian artists Maïmouna Guerresi, Nicola Lo Calzo, and Anna Raimondo. Upstairs, 'Second Life' examines waste and recycling, featuring Zbel Manifesto's 'Un dîner en ville' and Eric Van Hove's industrial assemblages. The MMVI in Rabat is the only other major contemporary art museum in Morocco.