Mous Lamrabat's 'A(R)MOUR' at MAD Brussels Explores Identity and Expression

Mous Lamrabat's exhibition 'A(R)MOUR' at MAD in Brussels runs until 2 September 2023. The show features 81 photographs that examine clothing as both armor and expression, playing on the French words 'amour' and 'armure'. Lamrabat, a Moroccan-Belgian photographer, incorporates Palestinian keffiyehs, a neon sign reading 'Love' in Arabic, and collaborations with local designers. The exhibition includes works shot in desert locations from Namibia to the UAE, as well as new commissions inspired by Brussels locations evoking Morocco. Lamrabat, who studied interior design, started as a self-made fashion photographer. His work challenges preconceptions about identity, gender roles, and cultural values. Collaborators include stylist Lisa Lapauw, French artist Justin Morin (textiles), Anneleen Bertels (eyewear jewelry), Naomi Gilon (ceramic boots), Siré Kaba, Kenza Taleb Vandeput's label Kasbah Kosmic, and textile designer Shishi San. Dieter Van Den Storm, MAD's creative director, calls Lamrabat a 'precious bridge-builder between generations and cultures'. The exhibition breaks from traditional display methods, using transparent textiles and towering curtains.