This exhibition, which continues until 8 February, offers a reflection on exile, uprooting, disorientation, and loneliness through techniques such as drawing, silkscreen printing, and lithography. Yassine Chouati explores the memory and melancholy of exile, inviting visitors to a collective introspection.
In a statement to the MAP, the Moroccan-Spanish artist emphasised that his conception of exile is not reduced to a simple narrative of displacement, but constitutes a personal and introspective exploration, noting that through his art, he explores exile from a more personal and intimate point of view.
The artist described his work as "deeply autobiographical," where he meditates on the distance from his country of origin, detailing the narrative structure of his exhibition, which includes four main projects.
He explained that his narration is both continuous and fragmented, creating a space where spectators can engage and participate actively in the artistic experience, noting that his work aims to be both symbolic and poetic, inviting reflection on identity and memory.
"'Cartography of Displacement' is more than an exhibition, it is a bridge between my past and the present, a moving return to the shores of my childhood," said Mr. Chouati.
The "Cartography of Displacement" exhibition, the opening of which took place in the presence of Mr. Omar Azziman, Advisor to His Majesty the King and Delegate President of the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad, and a group of personalities from various backgrounds, addresses themes deeply linked to immigration, which perfectly reflects the Foundation's mission to present and promote the works of Moroccans living abroad (MRE), explained Fatiha Amellouk, Director of the Art, Culture, and Communication Department at the Foundation.
Since the inauguration of the "Rivages" space in 2016, dedicated exclusively to Moroccan artists of the diaspora, the Foundation has welcomed many artists and organised various exhibitions, she continued, noting that "this constitutes our way of inviting them to share their creations, marked as much by the ties with Morocco as by the influences of the countries where they lived and studied."
This exhibition, according to Ms. Amellouk, is not only an artistic event but a celebration of transnational ties and a recognition of the cultural hybridity of Moroccans living abroad, offering a platform for these artists to express and explore their Moroccan roots and the global influences of their journeys.
The "Rivages" space, inaugurated in March 2016, is dedicated to Moroccan artists and writers living abroad. Since its opening, it has hosted numerous exhibitions and book presentations aimed at making the creations of the Moroccan diaspora known and integrating it into the artistic and cultural life of its country of origin.
