Meet the regional artists charging for change and diversity in the art and fashion world.
Mous Lamrabat is a self-taught photographer born in Morocco. Due to his move to Belgium as a child, he struggled with his identity growing up. After studying interior design he discovered art and began to use his cultural experiences to his advantage by fusing Western and Moroccan aesthetics to create his unique vision on fashion photography.
Inspired by his home country his aim is to show his rich Moroccan heritage through an artistic eye. This series titled ‘Dounia’, meaning ‘earth’, is one of the first series of ‘ArtsiMous’, a collaboration between Lamrabat and Moroccan art director Artsi Ifrach. The inspiration behind these images came from Lamrabat and Ifrach’s walks through the city of Morocco where they found the materials for their work. The idea was to create something futuristic with traditional Moroccan materials.
When did your interest in art first start?
It started when I went to the Academy in Belgium to study interior design. Here I was introduced to modern art and got to know what being ‘artistic’ really meant. Before that I thought art was boring paintings in museums. I didn’t really understand back then.
What inspired you to combine Western and Moroccan cultures within your work?
Well, we all have these identity crises at a certain age. I’m a Moroccan, am I Belgian? But it didn’t stop there, I realised that Africans saw me as Arab, and Arabs saw me as African. So, from here I grew a new identity crisis. After a while I stopped seeing this as a weakness but as a strength. I can see from my current exhibition that my work speaks to a lot of people that struggle with this identity crisis. Moroccans, Europeans, Africans and Muslims. I love that I can bring everyone together through my art.
How did you develop your photography style and have you always used fashion objects in your artwork?
My style is actually the fruit of not knowing so much about photography. I just played around. I always tried to work with ideas instead of just only a beautiful subject. This is how my style grew to what it is now. I love to work to an idea that happens in front of the lens so the technical part doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve always loved fashion from a really young age and I first became a “fashion photographer”. But after doing this for a couple of years I had the feeling that all the fashion photographers were doing the same things. This was the reason that I went searching again to see how I can make it more “me” and make it different from other people’s work.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
This series was made by Artsi Ifrach and me. We work together now as ArtsiMous. We have a lot of connection points, universe-wise. We inspire each other a lot and we walk around a lot in the city. We came up with this series after having a walk in the medina. We found all the props in one day and we wanted to create something futuristic with traditional Moroccan items combined with fabrics and plastics.
Why is it important to open the conversation around the stereotypes of veiled women?
Being a veiled woman is not just for religious reasons, it’s also about identity. A face in a picture can rob your attention away from the image and its message. I cover the face in my work to tell my story and to guide people through the image. A veiled woman is still so beautiful to me. I love fashion, I love aesthetics and I love being artistic – a veil is what covers all these things.
What kind of impact do you hope your work will have on society?
I want to show how rich our culture is and how creative we are. I see people in Morocco that are so creative every day without even knowing they are. I hope to change the stigmas that people have about our culture.
You currently have your first exhibition in Belgium, did you ever imagine that you would have your very own exhibition?
Never! Especially this soon. I thought maybe after 20 years of working. It’s my first exhibition so I didn’t have any idea what to expect. But I love it and it’s a big success. I love that I’m reaching my goal to bring all kinds of colours and all kind of ages together.
Watching my parents see my work for the first time was emotional and also the best moment of my life seeing them so proud of me.
Did you know you always wanted to get into photography?
When people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up I always answered, “a father”.
I couldn’t ever dream about doing what I do now. But I’m starting to understand more and more what I want. We are always searching no matter how old you are. And the longer that I do what I love, the more I understand where I want to grow to.
What inspires you the most about your Moroccan heritage?
Everyday life. What I use in my work are things that Moroccans have in their houses and use every day. There is so much beauty in the objects that people have been using for years. When I go to Morocco I appreciate everything I see. I always fall in love with the kitsch items. The inspiration there is endless. I can’t go to the market without coming home with at least a dozen ideas.
Lamrabat currently has his first solo-exhibition ‘Mousganistan’ in Belgium until March 24 at Location 14 Zwijgershoek – Sint Niklaas. Info@mousmous.com
ALSO READ:
Egyptian artist Hossam Dirar talks to Emirates Woman about Freedom in art
Why we love Kuwati-based artist Aidha Badr
Media: Supplied
