Born in 1948 in Asilah, Khalil El Ghrib is an artist who stands out for his vision of art, marked by a resolutely ethical approach and a refusal of commercial compromises. His work extends beyond material constraints, embracing the impermanence and symbolism of nature. Using simple and natural materials (straw, copper, quicklime), El Ghrib shows “the living” through installations that celebrate as much as they question the constant transformation of matter. For him, art is a path of freedom, an invitation to see the visible and to glimpse the invisible, we read in the press release.
Immersive
This immersion in the work of Khalil El Ghrib constitutes the sixth edition of State of Emergency of Poetic Moments (EUIP), an event designed by Bouchra Salih to invite artists to dialogue with the natural space and explore new forms of creation on site. According to the same source, this year, the Botanical Garden of Rabat is being transformed into an ephemeral gallery, where El Ghrib’s installations will resonate with those of other artists, notably Ahmad Karmouni, Mohamed Ahnach, Mohssin Harraki and Mohamed Larbi Rahhali.
For the organizers, this exhibition goes beyond the framework of a simple homage to transform itself into a platform for cultural exchange and reflection on our relationship with life. Works designed for this specific place, in a dialogue with the surrounding nature, invite us to a sensitive exploration of our environment and to a meditation on the transience of existence, underlines the press release.
Discoveries
To accompany this celebration of art and nature, the French Institute of Morocco (IFM) and State of Emergency of Poetic Moments (EUIP) have developed, according to the press release, a rich and immersive program, intended to to discover the world of Khalil El Ghrib in different facets.
At the Maison mauresque du Jardin, a cycle of films devoted to the work of Khalil El Ghrib will be broadcast daily, with the exception of Mondays. This selection of documentaries and programs allows visitors to delve into the artist’s unique vision and better understand the depth of his approach.
As part of the “Lemma fi Jarda” program, a dialogue space will be dedicated to students and emerging artists, in order to encourage exchanges with Khalil El Ghrib. These meetings, led by Amine Boushaba, present themselves as a laboratory for sharing and teaching around contemporary artistic issues, underlines the press release.
On Saturday, November 23, a meeting between Khalil El Ghrib, Hassan Bourkia and Mohamed Al Achaâri will offer the public the opportunity to discover more closely the influences, inspirations and messages of the artist. This exchange will deepen the understanding of his work and his artistic philosophy, according to the same source.
Outside the walls, the youth media library of the French Institute of Rabat will be set up in the garden to offer children a program that is both fun and educational. Drawing workshops, water games and story readings are planned to delight young people and make them aware of the importance of nature, we read in the press release.
Finally, guided tours will be organized daily under the guidance of the exhibition curator and cultural mediators. This cultural mediation program, designed especially for school groups, offers activities adapted to different ages to provide an enriching immersion accessible to all.
Symbolism
Through this tribute exhibition, Khalil El Ghrib reminds us how art goes beyond borders and conventions to reconnect us to the essential. His work, made of natural materials and strong symbols, evokes the cycle of life and death, the invisible which hides behind each form, each material. Refusing the artifices of the art market, he adheres to a practice deeply rooted in humility and respect for the living, according to the same source.
With the support of State of Emergency of Poetic Moments, the Botanical Essay Garden is transformed into a unique exhibition space, where the works of El Ghrib are part of a dynamic of exchange and transmission cultural. The event, punctuated by highlights such as the opening on November 8 and the finishing on November 24 accompanied by a performance by Saïd El Haddaji, promises to transform the Moroccan capital into a true showcase for this vibrant tribute to the living, reads- we in the press release.
More than an exhibition, this initiative embodies an approach of sharing, learning and reflection, where each visitor is invited to question their relationship with the world and nature.
