27 August 2023

Dar Slimane Marrakech مراكش : Tableaux November to January 2022 - 23


In the later stages of the residency, Dar Slimane project director Aziz Nahas indicated a site for the required artwork. I had seemed to pass by the electric station for the water system irrigation and amazingly not registered it as a site for potential, however it was a perfect location, widely visible and close to the residential areas. It would be a good place for a mural ('tableaux', as Adil, art residency co-ordinator first described it) being in the shade for most of the day (primarily north facing). Priming the wall white, I began work exactly at the same time the irrigation system was being installed and seedlings being planted, so working directly alongside the garden workers throughout each day of making.




There was a degree of urgency as the timeline for the tableaux was inside the last three weeks of the residency, plus my final tour to Essaouira had already been scheduled allowing only days to plan, prepare, paint and varnish. Of course, weather conditions are consistent and very helpful with strong light and dry conditions. Two coats of the various acrylics were applied, beginning with an orange line to act as a drawing line for the colour areas, applied around a pencil scale up of the design. 


Permaculture irrigation installation alongside: sound of water ..





The design was remarkably quick to make and I think on reflection that all the preceding work made at the residency and the tours were a kind of grand assimilation for this final act. It arrived straight away without deliberation or development. I had seen a corbal fragment in the Musee de l'Histoire et des Civilisations at Rabat two weeks before on which the design had a distinctive and stylish interlocking linear design. I liked it instantly and registered its form. Significant in context, as the fragment was from the Koutoubia Tower at Marrakech, the 70m 12th century large scale minaret that overlooks Djemaa el-Fna and western side of the Medina, so in a way in making this tableaux, bought the design back to (near) home. 



Various architectural features were included here, ornamental designs and arches to hold onto the main design element. The work is flat, geometric and linear, to enable an area of saturated colour to be delimited against another so creating maximum interaction and therefore dynamic. I recollected Matisse and Tanger, the Hotel de Ville and figurative elements that permeate his work made from the windows of the hotel. Above all features of the buildings of Morocco permeated alongside the Koutoubia fragment. Colour, of course drives the work and these recognisable forms melt under the design function of saturated colour interaction. 




The eight star Hatim architectural feature is typical and wide spread in Moroccan architecture both in stone and tile work. It is one of the keystone design elements of Zellige decorative design generally being highly adaptable and extendable into further more intricate configurations, particularly in ceramic wall tiles as architectural component. The archetypal design is always a repeat pattern, instantly recognisable; as an Islamic design element Zellige combines unified order with an infinite, all embracing philosophical and cosmological character. 








The tableaux as complete looked very good and well received by the team and family at Dar Slimane. Vibrant colour, discrete yet powerful in amongst the hive of activity in the construction of the water irrigation system for the permaculture growing system, the garden greenery, land and location generally. From distance it stands jewel like and bright. I like the size of the wall that the tableaux is on with its solid concrete construction of an almost block like form situated in the garden, right close to the reed pond. As with all exterior made work, it is impossible to view separate from the surroundings and this tableaux was made, and remains as, a site specific artwork. 


23 August 2023

Dar Slimane Marrakech مراكش : Portfolio November to January 2022 - 23

Dar Slimane is an eco-agricultural market garden located 14 kilometre from Marrakech on the Quarazate road close to Sid Abdallah Ghiat. Undergoing transformational water irrigation development whilst I was resident, clearing of olives preparation of land and planting for vegetable growing to service a new restaurant and bakery in Marrakech, the site was placed for total immersion in captivating light conditions of November and December. Surrounded by arid conditions and dusty open spaces, little naturally grows away from water supplies and the concept of oasis becomes reality as at the junction with the main road was a main water supply for local residents, always present filling tanks and bottles. 

Private Collection

With sketchbook and Canson A3 pad I was able to spend several days making acrylic paintings, pastels and watercolours. I chose the terrace as a base for portable studio and set about developing a series of very spontaneousness works exploring simplest of method, because of the very dry conditions and the way paint dried so quickly. I have never worked in such conditions and was fortunate to be able to work from morning to evening on several days so the changing light added dimension to the way work was made. Using a variety of acrylic paints, work progressed in response to the place. Observing wind, light, sound; sound of the palms and sound of gardeners pruning olives and planting, testing water supply, a close attachment with the place was formed.



I found a bicycle on site and serviced ready for use so made many trips to Chwiter for supplies and a very good coffee. People always friendly, then back to set up the portable makeshift studio. This daily process continued to the end; I found the light captivating (and returned to Morocco in January, further south to experience more). However, during this time, tours of the country plus the Tableaux project (see previous and next post) would also take place. 

This sparse and instantaneous paint drawing demonstrates the not easy way to apply paint yet using the material in challenging conditions is part of the image construct. 
Private Collection




New permaculture irrigation and planting of seedlings transforming the site on a daily basis. The water irrigation system is eco friendly and self sustaining in the arid conditions of the surrounds. 


Context: Tanast

Tazarin oasis as identified by artist Othmane Ouallai in project Tanast ( water clock, symbol of water and water related cultural practices ) refers to an oasis close to Bani mountains in south east Morocco, under threat by modern capitalist venture also once site of a battle and resistance against French colonisers. Tanast draws on the conceptual meaning of the water clock to symbolise the social system of harmonious life around the oasis. 

Linked to this on the right, an historical photograph of a water merchant from circa 1880 in MACMA. The merchants seemed to have carried large amounts of water on their backs without animals .. (artwork  seen at C[a]rita : The Palmgrowers Yet Alive expo and photo at Musee Photographie Morocco Marrakech)

And onto the agricultural project here at Dar Slimane I am observing, with last weekends extensive planting at the same time as installation of the permaculture water system (top two photos). 
Tanast, ‘the guardian of water and water related cultural practice and irrigation customs’. 

Initial sketchbook studies sought to assimilate surrou8ndings and with recognisable forms, these access the location features as a tributary to revealing character of place.