The CDG Foundation presents at the Espace Expressions CDG the work of the winners of the 1st edition of the “Young Moroccan Photography Prize 2024”. This prize, initiated in June 2024, by the CDG Foundation in partnership with the Moroccan Association of Photographic Art (AMAP) is aimed at all young Moroccan photographers aged 18 to 35.
This initiative is intended to discover and celebrate young Moroccan photographic talents, both resident in Morocco and those around the world, with the aim of promoting inclusive artistic practices for the young generation of artists by supporting them in their journey and by promoting their emergence. of the 3 winners as well as those of the 2 participants who obtained mentions of encouragement are exhibited at the Espace Expressions CDG.
This prize, far from being limited to a simple competition, is a springboard for young artists who aspire to share their talent and showcase it in the artistic scene. There Fondation CDG is proud to contribute to the emergence of these new talents and to offer photographers a space for recognition of their work and their creativity.
Approached by Hespress FR, Jaâfar Akil, President of the Moroccan Association of Photographic Art underlines that “This project to promote young Moroccan photography is part of the partnership between the CDG Foundation and AMAP. The main objective is to offer these young artists a platform to express their sensations, their visions, and above all to encourage the emergence of a new generation which will ensure the succession of photographic art in Moroccoc”.
Regarding contemporary Moroccan photography, he proudly reiterates, what characterizes it above all is its plurality and diversity. For him: This wealth is a major asset, because it reflects the cultural and artistic diversity of the country. Each artist brings a unique perspective, contributing to a visual mosaic that testifies to the vitality and originality of this discipline.
What is also remarkable is that contemporary photography in Morocco evolves in a context where there does not yet exist a real art market that can direct, orient or constrain it. “This freedom offers photographers a space for authentic expression, where they can experiment without limits and give free rein to their creativity.”, underlines Jâafar Akil.
Proud of the remarkable progress, Akil concludes by expressing his hopes: “thus, contemporary Moroccan photography is distinguished by its diversity, a quality which perfectly embodies the cultural richness of Morocco and which opens great perspectives for the future of this art.”.
Holder of the first AMAP prize, Ismail Jaddi is very happy and honored to be part of this exceptional event. “I had the pleasure of participating with five works from my ‘Sans Fin’ series. As you can see, all my photographs are in black and white. This aesthetic choice, particularly in the first volume of the series, reflects my artistic vision: black and white leaves infinite space for creativity and expression, while offering a raw and sincere interpretation of reality. I would like to express my deep gratitude to CDG, AMAP, my friends, as well as my mother, to whom I dedicate this award on this special day, since she is celebrating her birthday today”, declares the talented youngster.
As for Mourad Fedouache, winner of the second AMAP prize, he assumes that “his photographic work is deeply inspired by Moroccan culture, love, joy, hope, but also by human beings and life in all its complexity”.
“Through my photos, I try to define humans, understand their environment and reveal the depth of humanity. It is not only a personal quest, but an ambition shared by all photographers: to capture scenes that transcend the superficial and that endure over time, to be perceived with depth and sensitivity.”, he reiterates.
The native of Sidi Yahya is motivated to expose real life and to do this, he chose a revealing project, entitled Shanty (The Street). It focuses on the exploration of Moroccan slums, these spaces imbued with mystery and stories, which are in danger of disappearing.
“Through this work, I seek to preserve an essential fragment of our collective memory, a testimony to the richness and challenges of these places in Moroccan culture. It’s a life project, well beyond a few years. My ambition is to visit other slums to deepen this exploration and convey a message: that of the importance of preserving these unique memories and stories, before they fade forever”, he explains.
Born in Mediouna, Ilyass Baha, winner of the third prize at AMAP, seeks through his works to explore the complex relationship between humans and their environment. Self-taught, Ilyass seeks to show how this environment can impose a form of confinement on the individual, influencing his choices, his vision of the world and his way of perceiving reality.
Thus, he explains: “The choice of black and white in my photographs is not trivial. Life, as it is, comes in colors, but I opted for black and white in order to create a distinction between reality and the universe that I propose in my works. This choice gives a poetic dimension to my images, while highlighting their sensuality and depth.”.
