Moroccan artist and photographer behind the wall of the rose Riad Yima Hassan HajjajBoutiques and art galleries MarrakechThe 12th-century Medina is a realm of popular art colors, modern photography, countless traditional costumes printed with designer logos and Arabic texts, and the shelves are filled with colorful tea pots, all designed by hajjaj.
The space is tucked in a quiet alley in the heart of Red City, beautifully capturing the photographer’s unique visual style, which made him an international star and earned him the title of Andy Warhol of Marrakech.
I arrived at Red City, met Chaojaj and explored the city through his eyes, as part of his immersive trip Capital One There are also members’ art clubs Cultivator (In fact, so immersive that at some point everyone in our group found themselves wearing hajjaj-designed clothes, taking photos at Riad Yima in front of his camera).
However, Marrakech’s multifaceted contemporary art and design scenes go far beyond its most famous area, known for its bustling souks, affluent history, and the fusion of Berber and Islamic architecture. The city has never been more popular among tourists, attracting a record-breaking crowd Four million visitors Just last year.
Hajjaj was born in 1961 in the city of Larache on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. He moved to London with his family at the age of 12. He believes that decades spent in the British capital are a key factor in understanding how the West sees his homeland. He said: “London taught me how people see my country and my culture, so I can play that. Morocco gave me my roots as a person.”
But until the mid-90s, when a friend asked him to help with a photo shoot in a British fashion magazine in Marrakech, his current visual style began to take shape.
“I sat there and stuck with it, (they were) European photographers, European designers, makeup artists, and set in Morocco.” This experience – and the desire to restore cultural narratives, made him “stylish shots of my people.” As a result, the subject of his photography is usually friends or everyday people on the streets of Marrakech (the “Kesh Angels” series on his motorcycle, which debuted in New York in 2014. Good reviews), Arabic clothing and accessories designed in bold tones and printed in designer logos. He has also worked with celebrities like Billie Eilish, Cardi B and Madonnaalthough his works have been exhibited in museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Victoria National Gallery in Melbourne, Australia, and the African Contemporary Art Museum in Marrakech, Al Maaden.
