Moroccan Artists Reconstruct Representations of Female Power

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In a new London exhibition called RAW QUEENS curated by Yasmina Naji – and in collaboration with Kulte Gallery in Rabat – Fatima Mazmouz and Meriem Bennani are re-evaluating perceptions of women in Morocco, as well as in the Arab world at large.
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Casablanca based Mazmouz embodies girl power with work influenced by Aita performers – a Bedouin musical style – known as Chikhates. Performing against a background of gun silhouettes, she creates the image of a uterus, choosing to represent the Chikha as unruly and disobedient women, both free and disturbing. Talk about being a #girlboss.
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Other works see Mazmouz belly dance while pregnant – talk about celebrating the female body – and works by Bennani that confront the intersection of feminism, religion and pop culture in Morocco. She plays on soap operas to celebrate and expose the private lives of women, sharing thoughts on love, dating, friendship and community.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzh1pyHlMLGpLTWvADwhAVO5UWBN-UiitNksQw0/
The exhibition reclaims the Moroccan female body on terms set by Moroccan women artists, and we are 100% here for it.
 
RAW QUEENS is on display at the Mosaic Rooms in London until 14 September 2019
 
Words by Lizzy Vartanian
Images via @themosaicrooms, @loubna_rg, @lorenelhili, @kultegalleryandeditions