Bank of Morocco hosts "Odyssey of the Gaze"

Rabat is currently hosting "Odyssey of the Gaze," a temporary exhibition at the Bank of Morocco Museum, featuring the work of Moroccan female photographers. The exhibition, located in the Dar El Qadi gallery, brings together visual narratives from artists representing diverse generations and artistic sensibilities.

The participating artists explore the world, themselves, and their communities through photography, employing abstract styles and various directorial approaches. Their work incorporates techniques such as collage and artistic composition, creating visually rich narratives. The exhibition includes established photographers like Lalla Essaydi and Majida Khattari, alongside emerging talents such as Yasmina Alaoui, Asmaa Akhannouch, Fatima Zahra Serri, Sarah Ismahane, Safaa Kotbi, and Heba Baddu.

"Odyssey of the Gaze" presents a dialogue between the artists' paths, experiences, and legacies, revealing intersections and divergences in their visions. The exhibition is described as an "odyssey that begins from the eyes of those who chose to see, and show us the world in another way." Lalla Essaydi and Majida Khattari are recognized as pioneers who paved the way for what is considered the "founding generation" of female conceptual photography in Morocco.

The exhibition also features contemporary female artists who have expanded this artistic horizon, particularly through engagement with digital media and modern techniques, leading to more fluid and open aesthetic boundaries. Beyond showcasing Moroccan women's photography, the exhibition celebrates their freedom from conventional photographic norms. Each artist has independently chosen to break free from academic constraints and resist categorization within rigid artistic molds.

Common threads among the featured photographers include explorations of the intimate fabric of female existence, encompassing layered identities, memory, heritage, social presence, and tradition. The exhibition reveals captivating variations in perspectives, underscoring the richness and vitality of Moroccan female photographic creativity. The Bank of Morocco Museum itself is undergoing a comprehensive renovation and will reopen in the summer of 2027, but continues to host exhibitions in various cities.