HASNAE EL OUARGA
born 1993, lives and works in Marrakech
Hasnae El Ouarga’s cyanotype work fascinatingly intertwines art, nature, and spiritual reflection. Her technique of placing stones directly on paper and exposing them to sunlight elevates the traditional photographic process to a meditative level. The sunlight interacts with the paper, transforms the materials and evokes a mystical relationship between the elements of nature and human creativity. The stone become a central symbol, establishing a deep connection between earth and sky, serving as a medium for a transcendent dialogue. This dialogue is not merely an artistic expression but also a reflection on the cyclical nature of matter, which constantly evolves and renews itself. The surfaces bear the traces of past eras, telling stories that transcend time.
The lines and forms that emerge are reminiscent of calligraphic signs, adding an additional layer of meaning. The creative process, which foregoes traditional photographic techniques, thus gains a spiritual dimension. In a constant interplay between the visible and the invisible, the image gradually reveals itself, shaped by gestural repetition and the influence of natural elements. Through her intuitive approach and the direct involvement of her body in the creative process, El Ouarga’s art becomes a form of living meditation. Every movement and gesture in her creative process is imbued with a conscious dialogue with the materials and the environment. The resulting work is a product of this dialogue, an image that is not only visible but also palpable.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Koussouf, Galerie des Résidents, Fondation Montresso*, Marrakech
2021 Fragments d’une mémoire anonyme, Jajjah, Marrakech
2020 Feminine plural, Dior, Taipei,
2020 Feminine plural, Dior, München
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Souvenances, Fondation Montresso*, Institut Français de Marrakech
2023 1-54 London Fondation Montresso*, London
2023 Art Genève, Fondation Montresso*, Geneva
2023 Regards sur la photographie, Fondation Montresso*, Marrakech
2022 Mi Casa Su Casa, Hannah Traore Gallery, New York
2022 Femmes Photographes, Musée National de la Photographie, Rabat
2022 Carte blanche à Mahi Binebine, Abla Ababou Galerie, Rabat
2019 Carte blanche, Fondation Almouggar, Tan-Tan
2019 Carte blanche à Hassan Hajjaj, Musée Mathaf Farid Belkahia, Marrakech
2019 Les marocaines, Du regard de l’autre au regard de soi, la maison de la photographie, Lille
2017 Fatna, video installation, Festival de Marseille, MuCEM