Mous Lamrabat is the mastermind of an enthusiastic, witty, interesting, and equally serious utopia. The photographer was born in Morocco but raised in Belgium. In his series Mousganistan he creates a personal universe woven with intercultural codes. The artist’s photographs are often intuitive and lack any kind of plan, but they never fall short of starting off an intercultural dialogue. Terracotta desert landscapes from North Africa, shiny fabrics, henna tattoos, and traditional fez are paired with the iconic capitalist elements of the West. The resulting photographs are unifying rather than being critical and negative. Out of the colourful mess come vivid and striking expressions. This is the artist’s attempt at coping with strict cultural boundaries, racism and gender roles. Asked about the message hidden in his work, he replies, ‘Love’. Lamrabat is shy of putting more meaning with words and guiding the audience, he prefers to leave each work to a liberated world of meaning.

Mous Lamrabat

5-15 October 2023

Bomontiada Gallery

Open everyday 10:30 – 20:00