Meriam Benkirane, an artist on the lookout for social transformations and mutations in our environment, invites us to dive into a rich and complex universe, between geometric exploration and urban meditation.
The “Interlude” exhibition marks a decisive turning point in his artistic career. Abandoning acrylic in favor of oil painting, Benkirane begins a radical renewal of his practice here. This passage is not simply a change of medium: it reflects a deepening of his approach, where the density and subtlety of the material fully blossom.
His works are deployed in a pictorial space built around a personal reinterpretation of cubism, where the balance of shapes and the juxtaposition of colors reflect an in-depth reflection on the contemporary issues of modernity. Inspired by the metropolises she has visited, Benkirane creates a sensitive cartography of urban landscapes, where architectural lines, rigorously traced, seem to absorb and spit out the energy of large cities. It is no longer just the structure of a place that she seeks to capture, but the frenetic rhythm that inhabits them, while suggesting the ambiguity of a space where speed and immobility mingle.
An exploration of shapes and colors
Benkirane’s paintings, saturated with vibrant hues, display a contrasting palette that immediately catches the eye. Difficult to get out of it. Through vivid compositions, she plays with perspectives, blurring the boundary between figuration and abstraction. Everything is there, but implicitly: the shapes meet, intertwine or dissolve, creating a visual dialogue which seems to pass through the viewer to lead them towards uncertain horizons. This perpetual dynamic, amplified by the use of repetitive patterns, speaks to us as much about the tangible as the digital, about the tensions between the materiality of the world and the evanescence of the virtual.
“Interlude” is part of a quest that is not limited to the simple contemplation of architecture or a reinvention of urban motifs. The subtle reference to the aesthetics of science fiction and dystopia is palpable, Benkirane transforming his paintings into theatrical scenes where the arrangement of forms becomes metaphor. Here, everyday objects melt and remelt in a pictorial choreography where everything, down to the smallest detail, becomes meaningful.
On a technical level, Meriam Benkirane demonstrates a mastery that clearly sets her apart on the current scene. His use of nuancedthis ancient technique popularized by the masters of the Renaissance, softens the contours while deepening the play of shadows and lights. Far from being purely decorative, this treatment of surfaces resonates with its critical purpose, offering a nuanced reading of the relationship between humans and their environment.
It is a universe of great richness that the artist deploys, where classic influences and contemporary daring mingle, and which invites the public to contemplate, question and rethink the complexity of the world around us.
