Selected artworks
on being indigenous
My Afro-Arab and Amazigh roots dominate as a source of inspiration for my art. Imazighen (plural form of Amazigh) are known as "berbers" in the western world, which is a derogatory and colonial term derived from the Latin term for barbarians. Besides, North African art, especially Amazigh art and craft is exploited extensively in the western world (i.e. pottery, rugs, tattoos, jewellery) without the recognition and appreciation for their creators and values. Thus both the art’s and craft’s purpose and characteristics find themselves being alienated to serve a small bubble. With my art, I want to honour the North African craft and be part of ongoing movement to reconnect it with its origins. I also explore what it means for me to be indigenous, from tradition to activism, but also the role and responsibility that comes with it.
Imazighen have a deep connection to nature, especially earth and water, which I also feel. The piece on the right side (on being indigenous) is thus a celebration of the elements and colours of nature. I wanted to capture the feeling of being indigenous to a land, the feeling of being loved and secured, similar to being in a mother womb.
104 x 80 cm | acrylic & pastel on canvas | available
unearthing wisdom
As an Indigenous person, I believe that we are formed from the soil, a belief shared by Jews and Muslims.
Through *Unearthing Wisdom*, I engage in a profound dialogue with my ancestors, the Indigenous peoples of North Africa. I carry their essence within my DNA, under my skin—their life experiences and traumas echo through my being.
In this work, I lament the deep grief of witnessing wisdom alienated and erased by colonization. The violence of that era left behind a culture traumatized and fractured, with future generations tasked with the healing.
There is immense beauty and knowledge in cultures that have survived, waiting to be decolonized. They offer us a glimpse into our shared heritage—one that transcends borders, beliefs, and systems. Each artistic expression, myth, and ritual holds a story of resilience, creativity, and an intimate connection to the universe.
By exploring and honoring these cultures, we not only gain a richer understanding of ourselves and the world, but also uncover insights that can guide us in addressing global challenges, from climate change to human conflict. In doing so, we honor the legacies of those who came before us and cultivate a deeper appreciation of who we are today.
100 x 70 cm | acrylic and pastel on canvas | available
decolonize your gaze
Exploring my ancestral roots also means reflecting on my relationship to Morocco as a daughter of the diaspora and challenging persistent post- and neo-colonial tendencies. This piece was created in Marrakech, with which I had an ambivalent relationship. The city is often portrayed in magazines as the “exotic” getaway promising a One Thousand and One Nights experience, while the articles mainly feature riads or restaurants that are appealing to the Eurocentric gaze with their white and beige chic. This artwork aims to show Marrakech in its true colours and atmosphere for which I used pigments and soil from the plants. Marrakech is a vibrant, densely populated and dynamic city. It is called the red city as all buildings are built of beaten clay, or painted in clay red. Marrakech is surrounded by the Atlas Mountains, which snowy peaks can be seen from the city center.
95 x 85 cm | acrylic and pastel on canvas | availabe
growth
This painting started with a raw structure to visualise the art of Amazigh craftsmanship. Slowly, I began to fill in the holes with colours and small structures that hold the skeleton together – symbolizing the mosaic of a growing process. This work was part of the Ph0n0l0gues art collective's group exhibition on the female perspective of heartbreak.
acrylic and pastel on canvas | 70x80 cm | available