Marrakech Biennale


Marrakech Biennale

an International Gathering of Performance, Screening and Debate for the Promotion of Contemporary Art and Culture

Marrakech will host the artistic and literary gathering of the 4th edition of the Marrakech Biennale under the theme “Surrender” from February 29 until March 4, with the main visual arts exhibitions running from February 29 until June 3.

The Marrakech Biennale offers the opportunity for international artists, authors, and film makers to exhibit their works, discuss and debate current issues, and exchange their experiences and thoughts at a larger scale with other artists and ordinary audiences as well.

The event is a celebration and a promotion of contemporary art in its various forms and a meeting point between artists in different fields and from different countries to cut cultural bridges and immerse in dialogue, discussions and debates.

The main visual arts exhibition will be held in Le Théatre Royale and in Al-Koutoubia tanks. It will bring together over 25 internationally acclaimed artists, architects, writers, musicians and composers who will exhibit their works. The exhibition is created in partnership with the local craftsmen of Marrakech to create an artistic dialogue between the artists and the specificities of the city.

Almost ten daily debates are planned under the supervision of Omar Berrada, Benedicte Clarkson and Elizabeth Sheinkman. The literary section will be held in the Riad El Fenn, a historic 17th century riad in the heart of the Marrakech medina, but also in several other places in town.

A series of lectures on art and its relationship with the city will also be held by many specialists, such as Aziz Daki (Workshop 21), Simon Njami (Revue Noire), WJT Mitchell (Art Professor, and editor of Critical Inquiry journal), and Rasha Salti (Art Critic).

To provide access to contemporary culture and art at a larger scale and for people of all ages, the 4th edition Biennale of Marrakech will include workshops for children organized by local and international stakeholders, in partnership with Zidzid Kids. In addition, students of the Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech and l’ESAV (Ecole supérieure des arts visuels) will accompany the guest artists through an internship program.

The program of the 4th edition of Marrakech Biennale will be as follows:

Tuesday, February 29 :

2:30pm – 3:30pm : “Writing Advice” by Latifa Baqa, Ali Benmakhlouf, Geoff Dyer, Camille de Toledo and Omar Berrada (as the moderator).

Friday,March 2 :

10.30 – 12.30am : “5×15″ by Touria Binebine, Rian Malan, Ben Okri, Ouidad Tebaâ, Ruby Wax and Rosie Boycott (as the moderator).

2.30pm – 4pm : “Fathers and Sons” by Camille de Toledo, Driss Ksikès, Rabia Raihane and Juan Asis Palao (as the moderator).

4pm – 5.30pm : “Are You Modern ?” by Khadija Carroll La, Pankaj Mishra, Zahia Rahmani and Ali Benmakhlouf (as moderator).

Saturday, March 3 :

11;00 am-12.30 am : “Trahir-vrai” by Rian Malan, Zahia Rahmani and Driss Ksikès (as the moderator).

2.30pm – 4pm : “Writing in Images” by Geoff Dyer, Mario Pfeifer and Omar Berrada (as the moderator).

4pm – 5.30pm : “Moroccan Novels” by Latifa Baqa, Rabia Raihane, Abderrahim Elkhassar and Ayoub El Mouzaine (as the moderator).

Sunday, March 4 :

2:30pm – 4pm : “Worlds of Words” by Abderrahim Elkhassar, Ben Okri and Pankaj Mishra (as the moderator).

Edited by Ahmad Azizi



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