Promoting Moroccan Art Online and Through Exhibitions
Nadia Echiguer, the promoter of the art exhibition by Moroccan artists in London, and inset, an oil paiting by Said QodaidBy Karen Dabrowska
(The Tripoli Post Correspondnet in London)
“A home without art is a home without a soul.” This simple but profound statement from her grandfather inspired Nadia Echiguer (27) who holds a Masters Degree in marketing, to promote Moroccan art internationally. In April this year she set up an ‘online gallery dedicated to Moroccan fine art, specialising in emerging artists from Morocco.
The launch of the on line gallery was celebrated with a London exhibition An Urban Twist from Morocco at the Coningsby Gallery in mid-May dedicated to the work of five artists : Larbi Cherkaoui, Kim Bennani, Said Yaghfouri, Zineb Echiguer and Said Qodaid.
Cherkaoui uses Arabic letters as the basis of his artistic creations. The letter ‘h’ in red on a yellow background is the striking central piece of the exhibition.
Bennani specialises in haunting, tranquil landscapes in grey, blue, black and green shades. Zineb Echiguer, Nadia’s aunt, paints Moroccan women in traditional garments with desirable and exotic faces.
Yaghfouri’s unique paintings resemble modern stained glass windows influenced by cubism to create urban pictorial scenes. Qodaid’s works include charcoal on paper drawings and figurative depictions of rural and urban Moroccan life.
It took Echiguer five months to organise the exhibition. The 24 paintings and drawings had to be shipped from Morocco.
“It was a difficult operation to carry out as we had to collect the artworks from four different cities. Luckily the authorisation from Morocco’s Ministry of Culture to ship the artworks took only three days,” she said.
The opening of the exhibition was attended by HH Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Susie Burbridge, Model Karima Adebibe and Arsenal star Marouane Chamakh.
An urban twist was one of the first exhibitions of Moroccan art in the United Kingdom and Echiguer believes she is the only person introducing Moroccan art to the United Kingdom as Moroccan artists have traditionally focused on France, Italy and Spain.
A price of over £2000 did not detract buyers and three of the paintings were sold and another three reserved.
Another exhibition is planned in October to promote the work of unknown contemporary young Moroccan artists.
“Our cultural heritage, the vivid colours and textures of Morocco and many well-known artists have given me much inspiration and immense pleasure over the years. Today the art market in Morocco is thriving and the art on offer is as diverse as the country, its people and its landscape.”
Growing up in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, Echiguer was surrounded by creative people, especially her father, a photographer, and her aunt, a painter. She remembers being mesmerised by stories of celebrated artists like Delacroix, Matisse and Majorelle when travelling through Morocco, a world where time stood still.
In 2007 when she moved to London, and started a family she recalled her grandfather’s words and decorated her home with art works given by her family. Often these works were by artists her family knew well and were friends with.
Friends and visitor regardless of their cultural background were intrigued by the originality, diversity and colour intensity of the paintings in her personal collection. This encouraged Nadia to offer Moroccan art for sale and her home became an exciting secret gallery.
With the launch of www.moroccanfineart.comher new online gallery she hopes to promote the diverse artistic talent emerging from Morocco to a wider audience, both in the UK and internationally.
Echiguer, recently collaborated with an international art consultancy agency and a leading interior design practice on the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel in Marrakech. She worked with the hotel designers and was able to commission twelve selected local artists. Fifty paintings and drawings were created which now adorn the public areas of the hotel.
The contemporary art scene in Morocco is booming with two Fine Art schools in Tetouan and Casablanca. Impressive art galleries can be found in Casablanca (Galerie Villa Delaporte and Atelier 21) Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech and Essaouira.
Many artists from overseas come to Morocco to paint creating a real fusion of genres and ideas. There is a contemporary art museum in Rabat and in the past ten years private Moroccan collectors have started to show a keen interest in art. In the past only private and public institutions bought artworks.
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