In the framework of the participation of Le 18 Marrakech in documenta 15, we wanted to reflect on what an oasis would look like in Kassel. The workshop, OASE KASSEL was organised with Laila Hida (Le 18), Iswanto Hartono (ruangrupa, the colectif selected by documenta for the artistic direction of the 15th edition), Renée Tribble (head of the Urban Design Unit at Dortmund University) and Markus Ambach. Among the activities we developed during the 5 days, there was a presentation of what is an oasis and a conversation about the need of considering the oases as an urban development model in Kassel. Click on the picture for more information:
desert
qafila khamisa /
En/Fr/Es
Between October and November 2021 we did Qafila Khamisa, the 5th caravan since we started Project Qafila, a practical research on caravans (and many other things). We went from Chinguetti to Tidjikja (Mauritania), a 280 km trek we did in 13 days. You will find all the information clicking on the image.
caravane tighmert: self-questioning /
Some times it is important to self-questioning, specially when talking on cultural activities we propose in the desert, without a pattern or model to follow, but building one with our own means. You will find some thoughts on how we are learning to decode the desert through artistic (or non artistic) researches and activities.
Version française en option
caravane tighmert 2020. epilogues /
In December 2020 we organised the 6th edition of the artists gathering, Caravane Tighmert. After having postponed the original date ( in April), because of the pandemic, we decided to celebrate it after the fire that burnt a third of the oasis surface, as a signal of support for the inhabitants, even if only artists living in Morocco could participate.
I could not come to Morocco because borders were closed but after this special edition, we had a series of conversations with the 7 artists, talking about their experiences and their works, but also about many different subjects that use to interest participants (nomadism, agriculture, water irrigation, caravans…). We also dedicated some time to explain the stories behind some of the member of the team (Ghassan, Slama, Mohamed…).
dimensions of perceptions /
Some thoughts on dimensions we should learn to navigate in the desert.
à l'épreuve du tamis /
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.caravanetighmert.com
This is a parallel project of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair that will take place in Marrakech (20-23 February).
sahara desert and cinema (and myself) /
Some thoughts on films related to Sahara desert and the influences in my researches. Click on image.
qafila rabiaa: episode 1 /
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…
culture development in morocco /
Some thoughts about what is happening nowadays with the culture development in Morocco (click on image for reading the text).
marsad drâa ressources /
We have updated our website Marsad Drâa (an open research platform on the Saharan desert) with new online ressources; we have also added some new sections (agriculture, architecture and wildlife)..
qafila rabiaa: episode 1 /
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.
retour de tighmert: épisode 1 marrakech /
Conversation qui a eu lieu au centre culturel LE 18 à Marrakech le 17 avril 2019, avec les artistes Mohamed Arejdal, M'Barek Bouhchichi, Laila Hida, Claudia Triozzi et l’architecte Carlos Perez Marin, ayant fait l'expérience de la résidence Caravane Tighmert dans le passé et qui répondent aux questions de la contemporanéité du désert et de la place de la culture contemporaine dans la société marocaine.
Par ailleurs des étudiants des écoles d'art de Tétouan (INBA) et Paris-Cergy (ENSAPC) ont parlé de leurs expériences après l’atelier une semaine que nous avons organisé à Tighmert dans le cadre de Caravane Tighmert 2019 et de leur restitution (dessins, vidéos, installations, photographies et performance) montrée ce soir même au 18.
caravane tighmert 2019 /
The 5th edition of Caravane Tighmert will take place next week in the oasis of Tighmert (Guelmim, Morocco), and it will have three parts, researches, visual and performing artists / music / art students from Tetouan (INBA) and Paris-Cergy (ENSAPC). These are the participants:
Khadija El Abyad, M’barek Bouhchichi, Lucia Citterio, Sarah Dornhof, Hanne Van Dyck, Said El Haddaji, Alexandra Kollárová, Marion Lécrivain, Manon de Matauco, Souad El Maysour, Btihal Remli, Lucie Sassiat and Jake Wiener.
Read Moreespacios desérticos y creación contemporánea /
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 /
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.
