Rabat — The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat has opened a new exhibition titled “A Maze of Power” by American artist Kehinde Wiley.
Running until June 15, the exhibition presents a fresh look at African leadership, inviting visitors to reflect on the choices that shape both artists and their subjects.
The exhibition, was previously showcased in Paris and Dakar, features eleven large portraits of African heads of state, reimagined through vibrant Pan-African aesthetics using wax fabrics and geometric patterns, which Wiley has been confidentially working on since 2012.
The portraits, painted on four-meter-high canvases, blend European royal art postures with African symbolism, challenging traditional, euro-centric, views of power both “beautifully and problematically.”
Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Museums Foundation, praised Wiley’s work for its bold reimagining of classical portraits, offering a modern and thought-provoking perspective on power.
Wiley himself explained that the exhibition aims to challenge the way black leaders have been portrayed in art history, questioning power as an artistic concept rather than simply glorifying individuals.
“Morocco is one of my favorite places in Africa, a cultural crossroads where tradition and modernity converge. I am honored to present my paintings here,” said the New York based artist in a press statement, expressing his admiration for Morocco as a cultural crossroads and explaining why he chose it as the location for opening the exhibition.
The Black American artist is most famous for his depiction of former US President Barack Obama that was unveiled in 2018. The iconic depiction features Obama seated against a vibrant backdrop of greenery and symbolic flowers referring to Obama’s heritage and the larger African-American experience.
