Lisbon – A collective exhibition entitled “Roots and Horizons: Moroccan Art in the Feminine” was inaugurated on Saturday at the Belem cultural center in Lisbon, in the presence of artists, writers and lovers of contemporary art from Morocco and the Portugal.
The exhibition, organized at the initiative of the Portuguese Screen Printing Center, in collaboration with the Moroccan embassy in Lisbon, presents the experience of five Moroccan women artists from different generations through a selection of works (silk prints, engravings and photographs) inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom. They are Malika Agueznay, Najia Mehadji, Ghizlane Agzenaï, Madiha Sebbani and Rahma Lhoussig.
The exhibition, which continues until November 21, reflects the creativity of Moroccan women, their artistic and creative experiences in their various manifestations as well as their contributions to the enrichment of contemporary Moroccan plastic art, which constitutes an important component of the national cultural and artistic heritage.
In a statement to MAP, the coordinator of the exhibition, Alexandra Silvano, noted that this exhibition is an opportunity to strengthen cultural and artistic relations between Morocco and Portugal, noting the importance of culture and art in bringing people together and promoting understanding between people.
The organization of this major cultural event aims, in its eyes, to highlight the cultural and artistic wealth of Morocco through creations which borrow new and multiple styles drawing on a rich and diversified cultural heritage, as well as to open up to new artistic trends such as photography and screen printing.
For his part, the Ambassador of Morocco to Portugal, Mr. Othman Bahnini, indicated that the organization of this exhibition aims to highlight the creativity and vitality of the plastic arts in Morocco, and more particularly of the feminine plastic art.
This event also allows the Portuguese public to discover the plastic art of Morocco, a country that shares a rich common history with Portugal, because these paintings reflect the challenges and aesthetics of a Moroccan society in full change, while retaining its cultural roots which combine Arab, Amazigh, Andalusian and African traditions, he added.
Highlighting the importance of fine arts as a component of the national artistic landscape, the diplomat stressed that visual expression reflects the cultural identity of a multicultural Morocco.
He added that this exhibition reflects the dynamism and evolution of the Moroccan artistic scene, with a new generation of artists combining Western techniques with local influences.
“Although Moroccan visual art of the 20th and 21st centuries has been characterized by male domination, we have witnessed the emergence of many female artists who have defied societal and cultural norms to leave their mark on the artistic field, both both locally and internationally,” noted Mr. Bahnini.
In a similar statement, artist Ghizlane Agzenaï indicated that she presented a unique experience during this exhibition, with a paper “totem” sculpture with futuristic geometric shapes, and a brightly colored canvas.
The young Moroccan artist, whose work is gaining notoriety, added that she transmits a social and spiritual message through her creations, which she defines as Totems.
For Agzenaï, these “totems”, full of paradoxical energy, convey dynamism and appeasement and are material incarnations of benevolent spirits diffusing waves of joy, vitality and security, creating contagious optimism.
The exhibition presents the works of women artists, from different generations. Beyond their distinct backgrounds, they demonstrate a deep interest in the cultural and heritage heritage of the Kingdom’s ancestral traditions.
This link is reflected in the works of Malika Agueznay, Najia Mehadji and Ghizlane Agzenaï, who combine Islamic calligraphy with floral, plant and geometric motifs, or Madiha Sebbani and Rahma Lhoussig, who have chosen to address social themes particularly related to with globalization, citizenship and Arab female identity.
