Casablanca – Casablanca hosted a national event on a Thursday aimed at democratizing access to art and highlighting Morocco’s thriving contemporary scene.
Casablanca’s Myriem Himmich Gallery welcomed the event, which was held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI.
Under the theme “Transitions,” the event was organized by the Fondation Nationale des Musées, featuring a collective exhibition that included 25 emerging and established artists from Morocco and abroad.
“This is about giving visibility to creators we don’t often get to meet,” Hicham Abkari, Director of Arts at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, told Morocco World News (MWN). “From painting to sculpture to mixed media, this exhibit offers a rare panoramic view into Moroccan creativity today.”
Each work in “Transitions” explores impermanence, identity, time, and transformation, a fitting theme for a night designed to make space for artistic exchange. For some artists, that theme took a deeply personal shape.
“I’ve been acting internationally for over 20 years… But when filming ends, I go back to my room, I buy magazines, I cut them up, and I create something.” Karim Saidi told MWN. His exhibited collage, first started in 2013, reflects years of solitude between film sets. “This piece is just one of over thirty that Myriem Himmich plans to present soon.”
From the deeply personal to the universal, the exhibit found room for the cosmos. Emerging artist Sahar Saïagh stood proudly beside her acrylic paintings inspired by astrophysics. “Besides art, my other passion is science,” she told MWN.
“I did a lot of research on what these planets are made of, the colors, and what exactly the images that we have are, which are usually just calculations and representations of what our technology is able to capture. And so I tried to use that and open up my mind about how I’m able to imagine what life out there is like.”
Meanwhile, Noam Chaoudri, better known as nono1dessine, brought a charming touch of cultural travel to the gallery. “My characters, a man with a tarbouch and a woman with a hat, travel Morocco together,” he explained. “I’m thrilled to be exhibiting here tonight alongside so many other Moroccan talents.”
But the exhibition wasn’t confined to canvas. As the sun dipped behind Casablanca’s skyline, DJ ReqTeq filled the gallery with beautiful music.
No less memorable was the food. Curated by chef Baya, the culinary experience paired gourmet precision with creative flair. Every little dish reflected the evening’s larger theme, art in all its forms.
The rooftop itself became part of the show. As the city lights slowly illuminated the horizon, guests enjoyed breathtaking views over Casablanca’s vibrant streets. With the golden hour glow, art and the city’s energy merged into one seamless experience.
The crowd was full of fashion, energy, and real appreciation for the arts. Actress Imane Wassila echoed the sentiment: “I came to see the work of Karim Saidi and Mohsen Bassir, but I left discovering so much more… We have art in Morocco.”
Whether between government officials and emerging painters, seasoned filmmakers such as Nour-Eddine Lakhmari and scientists, or strangers, art became a common language for connection throughout the night.
