The Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) and Tate St Ives, UK, have jointly announced an upcoming museum exhibition titled “Platforms and Patterns for a Postcolonial Avant-Garde 1962–1987.” This exhibition will showcase the works of artists from the Casablanca Art School and will be the first major presentation of their art in a museum setting. The exhibition will be on view at Tate St Ives from May 27, 2023, to January 14, 2024, before travelling to SAF in February 2024.
The Casablanca Art School emerged after Morocco gained independence in 1956 and played a pivotal role in shaping a new visual culture. The artists associated with the school embarked on a revolutionary approach, breaking away from Western academic traditions and drawing inspiration from local culture. The exhibition explores the transformative impact of the artist-professors who encouraged experimentation and instilled a sense of social awareness within the institution.
At the Casablanca Art School, traditional Berber skills, materials, and visual languages were combined with modernist influences from Europe and North America. This fusion created a unique space for reimagining Moroccan contemporary art and its connection to everyday life. The exhibition delves into the diverse artistic practices of the school’s teachers and students, encompassing painting, sculpture, graphic design, architectural mural painting, and various other media.
A central theme of the exhibition is the artist’s commitment to bringing art into public spaces and promoting it as a shared experience. The showcased works by 22 artists include vibrant abstract paintings, urban murals, craft, typology, graphics, and ceramics. Alongside the artworks, the exhibition also features rarely-seen print archives, vintage journals, and photographs, providing deeper insights into the artistic and cultural context of the Casablanca Art School.
Notable artists participating in the exhibition include Carla Accardi, Malika Agueznay, Hamid Alaoui, Mohamed Ataallah, Herbert Bayer, Farid Belkahia, Fouad Bellamine, Mohammed Chabâa, Saâd Ben Cheffaj, Ahmed Cherkaoui, André Elbaz, Abdellah El Hariri, Abdelkrim Ghattas, Mustapha Hafid, Anna Draus-Hafid, Mohamed Hamidi, Mohammed Kacimi, Miloud Labied, Mohamed Melehi, Houssein Miloudi, Abderrahman Rahoule, and Chaïbia Tallal.
Curated by Morad Montazami and Madeleine de Colnet for Zamân Books and Curating, in conjunction with Anne Barlow (Director) and Giles Jackson (Assistant Curator) from Tate St Ives, the exhibition is a collaborative effort between Tate St Ives and Sharjah Art Foundation. The exhibition’s presentation in Sharjah, scheduled for February 2024, will be in partnership with the Sharjah Art Museum and curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, the President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation.
This exhibition marks a significant moment in the ongoing international research into the Casablanca Art School, which was initiated in 2020 by KW Institute for Contemporary Art and Sharjah Art Foundation, in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Marokko, ThinkArt, and Zamân Books and Curating.
With its exploration of the Casablanca Art School’s artistic legacy and its role in shaping a postcolonial avant-garde, this exhibition promises to be a captivating journey into Moroccan art history. By showcasing the fusion of traditional and modern influences, the exhibition highlights the school’s contribution to redefining Moroccan contemporary art and its enduring relevance in the global art landscape.