Join MZAB as we interview the visionary creative Sarah Addouh, a Moroccan photographer, architect and collage artist based in Casablanca.

At MZAB we have been a fan of your work for quite a while. Tell us more about yourself, your heritage and what inspired you to embark on an artistic profession

My name is Sarah Addouh, I am a Moroccan collage artist and architect based in Casablanca. Collage is a great way to unleash my creativity by combining old elements to create new ones. I have always been inspired by Moroccan popular culture which is by default very rich and unique due to its craftmanship, history, people and traditions.

I first received a camera when I was in my 1^st year at architecture school and it marked the beginning of my artistic journey. I was really excited about the idea of capturing moments of life in HD from an artistic point of view (moments with friends, family, in the streets, in the souk, in festivals). Additionally, I have always been inspired by my grandparents, as I enjoy hearing stories and adventures from their youth in Morocco and abroad.

Which artists have inspired your work and why?

I am inspired by the pop art style in general. I like the artworks of Andy Warhol, the compositions of Richard Hamilton’s collages and the inspiration behind Hassan Hajjaj’s photographs especially those which feature Marrakechi women with customized Jellabas and motorcycles. The composition, the point of view and the colour palette is immaculately selected to capture the beauty of the models. 

I love the way that the pop art style emphasizes the popular culture of a country and all its components. Mena’s pop art for example is emerging thanks to the desire of its artists to introduce their culture to the world through using their owns symbols and codes.

What is the power of photography and collage and what does it evoke for you?

Photography is a powerful tool to capture the significant moments life brings and to keep them close to us. By contrast, collage is a good way to complete this photograph and to show all the missing emotions that I felt but couldn’t capture with the camera. My collages feature different alliances between elements of popular Moroccan culture which interact to form offbeat and captivating works.

You are based in Casablanca, what is the artistic scene like there and in Morocco as a whole? 

Casablanca is a great laboratory for local artists. There is so much going on there and I am glad to see a lot of emerging artists that are proud to show their Moroccan culture and belonging to the world, in several fields (art, street art, music, dance etc).

Moroccan rap for example is known worldwide as well as Moroccan/ Berber symbols in art, design and fashion.

How does the landscape and historic culture of Morocco and the wider Arab world feed into your art?

I am really attached to my roots and culture. To be Moroccan and Berber is a great heritage that I am proud of. I try to show this connection by using old family photos that I found in my grandparents’ house or by using photos that I capture with my camera when I travel across Morocco (people, architecture, symbol). I use a lot of cultural symbols in my work such as Tajines, Moroccan zellige, taxis, people, traditional houses… I isolate them from their context to present them creatively.

For MZAB, buildings hold more resiliency and longevity than human life- what is the symbolism of Architecture for you and what do buildings represent?

Architecture is the witness of history and civilization. Moroccan architecture is very special and diversified by its techniques and materials. In a lot of Moroccan cities, we find that traditional houses and ramparts of the medinas can cohabit with the colonial and art Deco’s French building or with more modern ones. And I find this diversity really interesting and inspiring. 

I also like the fact that architecture can blend into nature, for example the Fallingwater house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Pennsylvania. It is considered a masterpiece of organic architecture, and symbolizes the harmony between the project and the natural site.

Who is an Architect you admire?

I admire the work of Frank Gehry, I find that his buildings are very fun and iconic, and the shapes and materials are astonishing. 

I also admire the work and philosophy of Hassan Fathi, an Egyptian architect of the last century that was very attached to traditional building techniques and used it to create a new architectural language. 

What is a line of poetry, lyric or word of advice you live by?

A lyric from an old Moroccan Aita song : ‘إلا خيابت دابا تزيان’ which means ‘If life is bad it will be better ’ and I think it’s a profound message of positivity and hope. 

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Frontiers of a new artistry: Sarah Addouh on the changing creative scene in Morocco and architecture as a witness

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