"The earth has a calming influence on our perceptions of 'living together' - we share
it and it divides us.
I question the earth as a common bond and a horizontal and equal relationship because
in its wide range of shades it mirrors our colors as human beings and injects poetry
into our approaches to life because 'we are made of earth'.

To propose this vision in such a simple plastic form in the face of the complexity
that these theories of diversity and race take on is the goal. The shape is reminiscent of the fullness of a doorway, a space of passage, life as a
passageway, and at the same time to recall and remember in the idea of repetition as
something essential."

In much of his work, artist M’barek Bouhchichi (b. 1975, Akka, Morocco) considers experiences of race and ethnicity, and how the multiplicity of identities that exist within the Muslim ummah shape how Muslims interact with the world around them. In the work shown here, Bouhchichi attends to the existence of Muslim minority populations and marginalized communities.

The floor installation Kolona min Torab explores the bond that unites all people—“We Are All Made of Earth.” Using clay from the Ourika valley and natural pigments from across Morocco, he has created tiles in various shades that address the complexity of difference in geography, geology, and people. The shape of each tile resembles a doorway or mihrab.

1st edition Islamic Biennale