Nadia Ouiddar
April 15, 2024 At 11:06
Eight years after the acclaimed project “Tracing Morocco – The Walls”, Hendrik Beikirch returns with works that capture the very essence of Morocco. “The artist continues his deep homage to Morocco drawing his encounters, revealing his quest for an ideal of humility and discovery. On this occasion, the emblematic portrait of Marrakech will also be renovated,” specifies the Montresso Foundation. “Memories of Before” is much more than just an exhibition; it is a poignant tribute to the relationship between man and nature, both fascinating and complex.
“Hendrik Beikirch’s approach to depicting memories goes against a quick and superficial way of collecting references and recalls an ancient art of telling stories through drawings, such as Silver acrylic on a black background which recalls the aesthetic of chalk on slate. Thus, “Memories of Before” allows us both to look back and forward, to take stock while anticipating,” indicates a press release from the exhibition.
The works presented constitute gateways to the artist’s experiences and his encounters in the Atlas Mountains region.
Through his meticulously detailed paintings, Beikirch transports us to the most remote corners of the Atlas Mountains, where the body and mind enter into communion with nature. The deep black of mountain nights, the dazzling white of snow-capped peaks, and each canvas captures the intensity and raw beauty of these breathtaking landscapes.
“Memories of Before” offers a meditation on the duality of humanity: our capacity to appreciate and destroy the nature around us. The exhibition presents a series of works that explore the relationship between humans and their environment, highlighting the often disastrous consequences of our impact on nature. Natural patterns are juxtaposed with human-made plastic objects, highlighting the paradox of our love and destruction of the planet.
