caravans

à l'épreuve du tamis by Carlos Perez Marin

Next Thursday, the 20th February, Le 18 Marrakech presents a collective exhibition curated by Fatima-Zahra Lakrissa, À l’épreuve du tamis, with artists Mohamed Arejdal, Nassim Azarzar, Ihsane Boudrig M’barek Bouhchichi, Khadija El Abyad, Abdeljalil Saouli and the projects Caravane Tighmert and Festival International d’Art Indigène.

Graphic design: Nassim Azarzar

Text: Fatima-Zahra Lakrissa

As a part of Caravane Tighmert, there will be audio interviews, pictures, textes and drawings from the researches developed during 10 years in the desert that have been used by artists for their contemporary creations. This kind of archive is online through the following websites:

www.marsaddraa.com

www.caravanetighmert.com

www.projectqafila.com

www.carlosperezmarin.com

This is a parallel project of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair that will take place in Marrakech (20-23 February).

qafila rabiaa: episode 1 by Carlos Perez Marin

Since 2016 I develop a practical research on caravans and nomadism, walking through the same routes caravans did in the past. You will find more information on our website (click on the image).

The 4th caravan will be a short one, a way to make discover some artists friends what it means to walk with nomads and to live in the middle of the desert. We will start next week in a point between Zagora and Foum Zguid and we will arrive one week later to M’hamid El Ghizlane where we will attend Taragalte Festival and we will share the culture of the desert with people from Mauritania, Mali, Niger…

This is the “theoretical” route we will follow, then, the desert and the nomads will say…

qafila rabiaa: episode 1 by Carlos Perez Marin

As a continuation of our practical research on caravans (in the framework of Project Qafila), we are already working on Qafila Rabiaa: Episode 1.


The first episode will be a short trek of 7 days (90 km) starting near Zagora and arriving to M’hamid El Ghizlane. Dates will be the last week of October or the first one of November. It has been thought to introduce some contemporary artists and researches to nomad life in the Saharan desert.

This is a possible route:

More information coming soon.

espacios desérticos y creación contemporánea by Carlos Perez Marin

Conferencia del pasado 12 de febrero 2019 en el Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza “Mariemma”  de Madrid sobre espacios desérticos y creación contemporánea, basado en nuestras experiencias en el desierto y especialmente con los proyectos Caravane Tighmert y Project Qafila.

chergui #001 2019 by Carlos Perez Marin

Le 18 is an independent culture centre based in Marrakesh. Last week they presented a new publication on contemporary art with contributors that have participated to their multiples art activities. Its founder, Moroccan photographer Laila Hida, asked me to share my research on caravans, in the framework of Project Qafila, but from her own perspective, approaching the narration of my travel story by the fictionality that allows the internet tools.

qafila project analog pictures and videos by Carlos Perez Marin

When I started Project Qafila in 2016 I wanted to use only analog cameras, for pictures and for videos, in order to do not carry extra batteries or a solar charger. For Qafila Oula I used Sprocket Rocket and Lomokino cameras with different Ilford films (Hp5 plus 400, Delta 400 and XP2 400).

Pictures taken with the Lomokino:

Video made with the Lomokino:


In 2017, for Beyond Qafila Thania, I used again the Sprocket Rocket and I tried a 16mm Bolex SBM but it stopped working from the second shot

These are the pictures taken with the Sprocket Rocket using 400 Ilford films:


In 2018, after sending the Bolex to be repaired, I could use it but it broke partially, being able to shot not more than 4 seconds during Qafila Thalitha:

For pictures I used for the first time a Leica M6 with Kodak Tri-X 400 TX films.

talks and round tables in 2018 by Carlos Perez Marin

This year I had the chance to talk in Ceuta, Fez, Zagora, Bir Gandouz (Dakhla) and Marrakesh about Saharan caravans, architectural heritage, nomadism, territory and urban planning in the desert, water and contemporary culture. Thanks a lot to Aula permanente de formación abierta (Granada University), Takafes, Forum International des Oasis, Ministère de l’Aménagement (Morocco) and Le 18 for trusting me.

qafila thalitha bolex 16mm by Carlos Perez Marin

In October we did Qafila Thalitha, the third part of a practical research on caravans. We walked 330km between Tissint (Tata) and Tighmert (Guelmim)  in the Moroccan desert. The logistic was provided by Said Razgui and his brother Mouloud and the nomad Omar came with me.

Us usual we tried several mediums and formats to document the experience. This is the uncut version of the video made with a 16mm Bolex.

More information in: www.projectqafila.com