Written by Mysa Kafil-Hussain “The commitment to art is a programmed minefield but when a work is in line with social and political complexities, there lies the power of art” Mohamed El Baz,...
MOHAMED EL BAZ, Morocco (1967)
Bio
Written by Mysa Kafil-Hussain
“The commitment to art is a programmed minefield but when a work is in line with social and political complexities, there lies the power of art” Mohamed El Baz, 2012[1]
With work crossing a multitude of themes and concepts, and an unrestricted use of media, Mohamed El Baz has proved himself as an experimental and unique Moroccan artist. Born in 1967 in El Ksiba, Morocco, El Baz claims a range of roots including French, African and Berber, as well as specifically Moroccan heritage. His family left Morocco in 1975 for Dunkirk, France, yet he retained many memories and a creative connection with his homeland.[2] El Baz studied at l'Ecole Régionale d'Art (Regional School of Fine Art), graduating with a national diploma in visual arts, and then attended ENSA (École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts de Paris Cergy) in Cergy, where he received another diploma in visual arts in 1992. He then pursued further studies at IHEAP (Institut des Hautes Études en Arts Plastiques) in Paris, graduating in 1993.[3]
Since 1993, El Baz has been working on his most well-known project, ‘Bricoler l’incurable’ (literally “tinkering with the incurable”). This ongoing work comprises a wide collection of pieces coming together to form an installation of sorts, exploring contemporary and social issues and the function of art and artists, with each work itself becoming entirely mobile and accruing new works to form different stories. [4] The title is borrowed from one of El Baz’ favourite authors, Emil Cioran, a Romanian philosopher, who stated in his book ‘All Gall is Divided’ that “to be modern is to tinker with the incurable,”[5] deeply influencing El Baz’ creative thinking by pushing him to consider objects, humans, and the entire structure of the world in a way that can be pulled apart, broken and brought back together again in a plethora of forms and meanings. Through all of the individual elements, El Baz strives to question (and hopes his audience too will question) the concept of borders and barriers between people and places.[6]
El Baz uses this method of breaking apart and reorganising his works to create new narratives in other projects too. His 2014 series ‘Battle’, also known as ‘La Ronde de Nuit’, was first exhibited at l’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in the momentous ‘Le Maroc Contemporain’ exhibition in 2014-2015, and is now housed in the Dalloul Collection. Using digital screen prints on plexiglass and mirrors, El Baz takes his inspiration from a card game popular in Morocco and thought to be originally a Spanish creation, with the game’s objective being to capture more cards by playing matching cards.[7] Played with a 40-card pack, this is the same number of boxes El Baz has created to form his series. However, he is not simply emulating a game for fun, but is using the traditions and the visual inspiration the game provides to produce works, which act akin to tarot cards with endless possible combinations. These combinations – in theory – answer questions about one’s life and one’s future with varying strategies and a range of discernible figures and themes including soldiers, kings, money, war and power. The use of mirrors is intentional, with El Baz wanting the viewer to see their reflection behind the symbols of the card as they change and develop new meanings: “in this work I change the cards into mirrors of our own situations.”[8]
In recent years, El Baz has continued with Bricoler l’incurable whilst also experimenting with other work including pieces exploring political and environmental themes, such as his 2016 installation ‘The World is a Stage / Door of Heaven’, which was exhibited in Marrakech Railway Station on the occasion of the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Much like his previous work, he wants to involve viewers in the process. Bringing them into the story of climate change by participating in protecting the environment of the illuminated continents which the work is comprised of, El Baz combines hard-hitting visuals with necessary education, stating in a 2016 interview “I believe that for a very long time, men have looked down on Earth. Today, it is time for man to come down, walk on Earth and take responsibility for his environment."[9]
El Baz currently lives and works between Lille and Casblanca.
[1] Patricia Boyer de Latour, “Monde arabe, les artistes font le printemps”, Le Figaro – Madame, January 29 2012, https://madame.lefigaro.fr/art-de-vivre/monde-arabe-artistes-font-printemps-290112-212715
[2] Michael Ferrara & Elisabeth Hawthorne, “Mohamed El Baz”, Memory, Place, Desire: Contemporary Art of the Maghreb and Maghrebi Diaspora, Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Haverford College, October 24th – December 14th 2014, 2014, https://exhibits.haverford.edu/memoryplacedesire/artists/mohamed-el-baz/
[3] Mohamed El Baz: “Biographie de Mohamed El Baz”, Mohamedelbaz.com, N.d., http://www.mohamedelbaz.com/bio/biography
[4] 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair: “Mohamed El Baz”, 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair – Marrakech, N.d., https://www.1-54.com/marrakech/artists/el-baz-mohamed/
[5] Imane Fares Gallery: “Mohamed El Baz”, Imane Fares Gallery, Paris, N.d., https://imanefares.com/en/artistes/mohamed-el-baz/
[6] Art and About Africa: “Mohamed El Baz”, Art and About Africa, N.d. https://artandaboutafrica.com/artiststudio/morocco/mohamed-el-baz/
[7] Pagat: “Ronda”, Pagat.com, N.d., https://www.pagat.com/fishing/ronda.html
[8] Rush Philanthropic Arts Centre: “Crystal Ball, Feng Shui & Tarot – Mohamed El Baz”, Rush Philanthropic Arts Centre, N.d., https://rushphilanthropic.org/exhibition/crystal-ball-feng-shui-tarot/
[9] Youssef Roudaby, “"Door of Heaven", le monument connecté de Mohamed El Baz pour la COP22”, HuffPost Maghreb, November 11, 2016, http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2016/11/07/mohamed-el-baz-cop22_n_12845566.html
Sources
Art and About Africa: “Mohamed El Baz”. Art and About Africa. N.d.. Accessed February 2021. https://artandaboutafrica.com/artiststudio/morocco/mohamed-el-baz/
Boyer de Latour, Patricia. “Monde arabe, les artistes font le printemps”. Le Figaro – Madame. January 29, 2012. Accessed February 2021. https://madame.lefigaro.fr/art-de-vivre/monde-arabe-artistes-font-printemps-290112-212715
Ferrera, Michael; Hawthorne, Elisabeth. “Mohamed El Baz”. Memory, Place, Desire: Contemporary Art of the Maghreb and Maghrebi Diaspora, Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Haverford College, October 24th – December 14th 2014. 2014. Accessed February 2021. https://exhibits.haverford.edu/memoryplacedesire/artists/mohamed-el-baz/
Imane Fares Gallery: “Mohamed El Baz”. Imane Fares Gallery, Paris. N.d.. Accessed February 2021. https://imanefares.com/en/artistes/mohamed-el-baz/
Mohamed El Baz: “Biographie de Mohamed El Baz”. Mohamedelbaz.com. N.d.. Accessed February 2021. http://www.mohamedelbaz.com/bio/biography
Pagat: “Ronda”. Pagat.com. N.d.. Accessed February 2021. https://www.pagat.com/fishing/ronda.html
Roudaby, Youssef. “"Door of Heaven", le monument connecté de Mohamed El Baz pour la COP22”. HuffPost Maghreb. November 11, 2016. Accessed May 24, 2017. http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2016/11/07/mohamed-el-baz-cop22_n_12845566.html
Rush Philanthropic Arts Centre: “Crystal Ball, Feng Shui & Tarot – Mohamed El Baz”. Rush Philanthropic Arts Centre. N.d.. Accessed February 2021. https://rushphilanthropic.org/exhibition/crystal-ball-feng-shui-tarot/
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair: “Mohamed El Baz”. 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair – Marrakech. N.d.. Accessed February 2021. https://www.1-54.com/marrakech/artists/el-baz-mohamed/
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CV
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
Mohamed El Baz: Ad Astra, L’Atelier 21, Paris, France
2019
Carte blanche, la classe morte, Belkahia Fondation, Marrakech, Morocco
2018
Lumière Noire, Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
2016
Door Of Heaven, Cop 22 ONCF train station, Marrakech, Morocco
2015
Bricoler L'incurable. Détails. ON., Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
Bricoler L'incurable. Détails / Une Nuit sur Terre, Imane Fares Gallery, Paris, France
2014
Lovesupreme, Imane Fares Gallery, Paris, France
2013
Never Basta, Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
2011
Bricoler l’Incurable, Galerie Mitterrand, Paris, France
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Le festin Nu, Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Netwerk Art Center, Aalst, Belgium
2009
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails / l’Atelier aux Cactus, Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
2008
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Le Portique, Art Center, Le Havre, France
Les Fleuves Brûlent, Atelier de la Source du Lion, Casablanca, Morocco
2007
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails - L’appartement 22 / Love Suprême, l’Appartement 22, Rabat, Morocco
Fuck the Death, Centre d’arts Plastiques et Visuels de Wazemmes, Lille Metropole, France
2006
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Le Micro-Onde, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
Les Ailes du dessin - Bonnat Museum, Bayonne, Paris, France
2005
Gold Save the Queen, Le Lieu, Québec, Canada
2004
Bricoler l'incurable. Détails. Love Suprême, École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Nantes, France
2001
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Ferme du Coulevrain, Savigny le Temple, France
2000
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails 2000, Bureau d’Art et de Recherche, Roubaix, France
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails 2000, Abbaye St-André, Art center, Meymac, France
1999
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Art center, St Fons, France
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Oboro Gallery, Montréal, Canada
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails (Valeurs véhiculaires, 1999), In All the Wrong Places/Dans des Lieux Incongrus, The Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, Canada
1997
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, La Maison du Notaire, Douai, France
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Léon Dierx Museum, St-Denis de La Réunion
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Vidéorème, Laage-Salomon Gallery, Paris
1996
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails. Mending the Incurable, Statengalerie Frank and Everdin Wesstein, The Hague, The Netherlands
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails. Teethclothes, Staten Gallery, The Hague, The Netherlands
1995
Bricoler l'Incurable. Détails, Museum Africa, Léon Dierx Museum, Saint-Denis de la Réunion
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails. Atterrissage Forcé, Jeumon Art Plastique, St-Denis de La Réunion
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails. White Spirit, Stand de la Staten Gallery, Art Fair, Cologne, Germany
Bricoler l’incurable. Détails, Orientation, IV Art fair, Istanbul, Turkey
1994
Le Sang des Bête, Staten Gallery, The Hague, The Netherlands
Hard Days’night, Laage-Salomon Gallery, Paris, France
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022
L’appartement 22 (2002-2022), L’appartement 22, Rabat, Morocco
The other story, Cobra Museum, Amstelveen, Netherlands
2021
Art, a serious game, MACAAL, Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden, Marrakech, Morocco
Peine de Mort, MACAM, Marrakesh, Morocco
Que reste t'il de nos amours, Galerie Kulte, Rabat, Morocco
Au coin de la rue / راس الدرب, French Institute, Rabat, Morocco
2020
Trésors d'Afrique, de Tombouctou à Zanzibar, Musée Mohammed VI d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, Rabat, Morocco
L'Art pour L'Espoir, L’Atelier 21, Paris, France
Welcome Home Vol. II, MACAAL, Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden, Marrakech, Morocc
2019
Carte blanche, La Forêt / El Gharba - 1ère Biennale Art, Musée Mohammed VI d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, Rabat, Morocco
DADA - Espace Dada, Marrakech, Morocco
2018
Débris-Collage, Moderne Art Museum, LAM, Lille Métropole, France
2017
E-Mois, The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), Marrakech, Morocco
Le monde et le Reste, Galerie Bernard Ceysson, Paris, France
2014
Le Maroc Contemporain, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Musée Mohammed VI d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, Rabat, Morocco
Special Flag, l’Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
Memory, Place & Desire, Haverford College, Philadelphia, United States of America
Préfiguration, Art Center, Vienne, France
2013
Silk Highway, Yallay Space, Hong Kong, China
Délocalisations, Casablanca, Morocco
No Limite, Imane Fares Gallery, Paris, France
2012
Intranquillité,
BPS 22, Charleroi, Belgium
Horizons Croisés, Conference Centre, Asilah, Morocco
De l’un à l’Autre, French Institute, Rabat, Morocco
The Power of Words: Artists from the Khalid Shoman Collection, Darat al Funun, Amman, Jordan
2011
Dos Orillas, CDBA, Madrid, Spain
2010
Love Suprême, Brodbeck Fundation Catania, Sicily, Italy
2009
Corps et Images du Corps, Société Générale Fundation, Casablanca, Morocco
Lisières et Débordements, Villa des Arts, Casablanca, Morocco
Traversées, Bab Rouah, Rabat, Morocco
Sentences On The Banks and Other Activites, in association with Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan
2007
Africa Remix, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
Mohamed El Baz & Hassan Darsi, Venises Cadres Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
Dans la Ville et Haut-Delà, 7th Bamako Meetings - African Photography Biennal, Bamako, Mali
Mirages, San Pedro Museo de Arte, Puebla, Mexico
2006
Africa Remix, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2005
Africa Remix, Hayward Gallery, London, United Kingdom
West by East, CCB Barcelona, Spain
Africa Remix, Pompidou Centre, Paris, France
Voix Off, Art Center, Sète, France
Doka, La Condition Publique, Roubaix, France
2004
Africa Remix, Museum Kunst Palast, Dusseldorf, Germany
Interférences, La Teinturerie, Art School, Amiens, France
Guerria, Le LEM, Lille, France
Les Afriques, Tri Postal, Lille, France
Bricoler l'incurable. Détails, Niquer la Mort,
Art Centre of Basse-Normandie, Herrouville-Saint-Clair, France
Bricoler l'incurable. Détails, les Soldats Veulent Bien Mourir mais pas se Suicider, Villa des arts, Museum ONA Fundation, Casablanca, Morocco
2003
Face & Cie (Facéties), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tourcoing, France
2002
L'Ami de Mon Ami, École Nationale d’Art Paris-Cergy, Cergy-Pontoise, France
2000
Racines, Le Magasin/Musée Dauphinois, Grenoble, France
Akbaneta, Nikolaj, Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Cergy Memory #1, La Vitrine, École Nationale d’Art Paris-Cergy, Paris, France
Bruit de Fond, Centre National de la Photographie, Paris, France
1999
Paris-Casa. Suites Marocaines, Couvent des cordeliers, Paris, France
Les Champs de la sculpture (X fois sur Les Champs-Elysées), Paris, France
Mois de la Photographie, Montréal, Canada
Propice, une Nouvelle Génération d’Artistes en France,
Espace Paul Ricard, Paris, France
Changement d’Air, Musée d’art Moderne et Contemporain, Lille Métropole, France
1998
Entremise, Galerie l’Engagé, Université de Rennes II, Rennes, France
Images Pensées / DenkBilder, Carousel Gallery, Paris, France
Gothic, Château du Val Freneuse, Sotteville sous le Val, France
Ici et Maintenant (Encore), Caisse des dépôts et Consignations, Paris, France
Ainsi de suite 2…, Art center, Sète, France
Christophe Boulanger, Olivier Derousseau, Mohamed El Baz.
Bar de la Mollette, Lille, France
Archives des Lointains, Musée de l'Histoire Vivante, Montreuil, France
1997
Ici et Maintenant (encore), Parc de La Villette, Paris, France
1996
Territoires Autonomes, Fête de l’Humanité, La Courneuve, France
Remote Connection, Neue Galerie, Graz, Austria
Remote Connection, Waltonen Museum, Turku, Finland
Remote Connection, Tedy Kolek Stadium, Occupied West Jerusalem
20 ans, le plus bel âge, Passage de Retz, Paris, France
Collections, Collections, Musée d’art Moderne in Lille, France
1995
Bifurcations, Cimaises et Portiques, Centre Culturel de l'Albigeois, Albi, France
Phases Terminales, École des Beaux-Arts, Galerie du Cloître, Rennes, France
Fréquence de Résonnance, L'Écart, Montreuil, France
L’Art d’Aimer: Curiositas Erotica, Association Nouvelle Vague, Villa St Clair, Sète, France
1994
Bifurcations, Abbaye Saint-André, Contemporary Arts Centre, Meymac, France
1993
Laiterie en friche - Europe en Construction, Hall des Chars / La Friche Laiterie, Strasbourg, France
Le Milieu du Monde, Centre Régional d’Art Contemporain, Sète, France
Escales, Tussenstop, Stopover, Musée d'art Moderne de la Communauté Urbaine de Lille, France
Nouveaux Augures, F.R.A.C. Languedoc-Roussillon, France
1992
Eurocréation, Medium Gallery, Bratislavia, Slovakia
A Bout Portant, à Tombeau Ouvert, Air de Paris Gallery, Nice, France
Public Exhibitions
2014
Brussels Art Fair 14 (with Imane Fares Gallery), Brussels, Belgium
Art Dubai 14 (with Imane Fares Gallery, Paris and l’Atelier 21 Gallery, Casablanca), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2011
Images Affranchies, Marrakech Art Fair, Marrakech, Morocco
2010
Art Paris 10 (with Atelier 21 Gallery), Grand Palais, Paris, France
Traversées,
Bastakia Art Fair, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2008
Abu Dhabi Art 2014, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Traversées, Art Paris, Grand Palais, Paris, France
Traversées, Darb 17 18, Cairo, Egypt
2007
Frieze Art Fair, London, United Kingdom
2005
Sharjah Biennale, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
1995
Africus 95, Biennale d'Art Contemporain, Johannesburg, South Africa
4th International Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul, Turkey
Collections
Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion, Morocco
National Fund of Contemporary Art in Paris, France
National Museum of Modern Art in Lille, France
Ramzi & Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon
Saham Group, Morocco
Société Générale, Morocco
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Press
Assabah.pdf
HuffPostMaghreb.pdf
طباعة - محمد الباز_ مزاولات بصرية بلون الغرق.pdf
Paris-Art.pdf
GalerieMitterrand.pdf
LeProjetKairouan.pdf
MOHAMED EL BAZ Artwork
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