In their artistic processes, the works of the Moroccan painter Bouchra Samodi give rise to intrinsically contemporary propositions, in a kind of atemporal impermanence, of stretched time. His works are above all the culmination of his research, studies of styles aimed at definition, the junction between the quasi-realistic landscape and the poeticity of the world. This visual artist, who lives and works in the coastal town of Harhoura, uses these elements of the formal vocabulary of her graphic work to reveal to us the riches of nature and its components as well as her dreams, her vision, her perception of the world.
Jean Jacques Rousseau says: “I have learned through my own experience that the source of true happiness is within us.” And not elsewhere. It is above all this freedom to create that the painter Bouchra Samodi loves and by which she defines herself. A rare but powerful experience in the way of living and thinking about art, from this unclassifiable visual artist for whom light and color are the true companions of her journey. Needing only escape, in solitude to find happiness, Bouchra joins the Rousseauist idea in his Walks from one painting to another, like open windows…
On the semiological level, Bouchra’s painting is not raw art, but a painting recaptured by the knowledge of its most fundamental elements. She then takes us on a journey through her works almost without saying a word, to help us discover the world as she feels, thinks, sees and perceives it. The gaze at the work then discovers suggested silhouettes which evolve so freely in space. Suggested because the forms remain above all allusive, as if beings had to merge with nature, in a harmony which would exclude any vain attempt at domination. She is inspired by dreamlike or phantasmagorical subjects but her works nevertheless remain faithful to the reality of forms. They confuse, question, release poetry.
This means that Bouchra’s work favors both the exterior aspect through its harmony of shapes and colors, and the interior resonance, that of the soul. In her world, she feels this incessant need to rise and move forward, slowly but surely. It is a question of a perpetual search for the depth of the work which allows spiritual awakening. In other words, the work of this experienced visual artist most closely resembles her soul and her emotions, which are always on edge. The superposition of layers of colors and the nuances of tones give a magical effect to his works.
Technically, our visual artist manipulates the various ingredients and juggles with the different techniques available to her: oil paint, charcoal, acrylic on canvas… And like any figurative painter worthy of the name, Bouchra favors pictorial materials more. This is the very essence of the work of this inspired artist who strives to render the strangeness of everyday life through still lifes which are reflected by the line, the touch and the color, but also and above all by her spirit. The splendor and elegance of his works are the fruit of particularly human work. His acute sensitivity to atmosphere, the sureness of composition, the exceptional control of the palette characterized by a muted tonality, counterbalanced by the colors, are simply magnificent.
Just as in writing, the letters of the alphabet constitute a tool of communication with the intellect, in the compositions of our Bouchra Samodi, these are the shapes and colors. This composition has the power to speak to the soul of the one who looks at it silently and without the unnecessary intervention of the artist. It carries within itself the authentic meaning; it is enough for those who look at it to understand this truth. During the creation of the work, the artist’s only concern is the search for balance. In fact, his works do not address the intellect of the viewer, they speak to his soul through shapes and colors, functioning in the same way as musical notes.
In short, the palette is vibrant with transparencies, within a sure, masterful, poetic and moving gesture. The gaps of light take us even beyond the limits of the painting. Faced with these quivering lights, the memory of Monet takes hold of us. It’s another world, but it’s the same magic.
Ayoub Akil
