It was fascinating to discover that the English artist Francis Bacon (1909 – 1992) traveled regularly to Morocco in the mid 20th century. Bacon’s longtime partner, Peter Lacy, had settled in Tangier in the 1950’s, and so the renowned painter would regularly travel there. At that time Tangier was known for its progressive culture and lifestyle, which attracted a number of liberal and creative figures, giving it the reputation as a good vibes destination back then. Artistically Bacon produced several works inspired by his experience of Moroccan culture. He had been particularly allured by its vibrant colors in both urban and rural landscapes. Unfortunately, only a few paintings from this place and period are known to have survived. That is because Bacon had the bad habit of destroying his works if they didn’t measure up to his standards. One of those Tangier paintings that made the cut was the masterpiece ‘’Pope’’, an oil on canvas made around 1958. Here an interesting article from Sothebys website. As we can surely relate to, Bacon was mesmerized by the country and his summers spent there were cherished, as evidenced by this photograph taken in Tangier of the artist with the Moroccan painter Ahmed Yacoubi. Not the […]

There was a couple by the name of Marlène and Paolo Gallone, who travelled the world extensively and adored collecting all manner of ornaments, jewelry and textiles, from precious stones to humble fragments that all echoed their many stories. This collection, and their love of Marrakech, resulted in the architectural wonder and museum that is the Monde des Arts de la Parure, or MAP. MAP opened in November 2022 and is the world’s first museum dedicated to adornment, presenting an array of unexpected pieces from around the world, from North Africa to Asia, including the Balkans, the Middle East and Mongolia. Located next to the royal palace in the historical district of the Kasbah, the building was designed by architects Joseph Achkar Sagid and Michel Charrière, who were inspired by the medieval Moroccan period and the Madrasas of the 15th century. The building rises from the narrow streets of the Medina, and is constructed upon pure geometry. The heart of the structure is a magnificent skylight that illuminates large and open exhibition spaces for the more than 3000 objects in the collection. The architecture also houses a fantastic terrace garden and a rooftop café, which invites young chefs to experiment […]

Maryam Touzani directs a very touching film and the Belgian actress Lubna Azabal is sublime in it! The director creates a subtle and delicate drama on the still taboo subject of homosexuality in Morocco. We particularly appreciated the attention to details and the quality of the images. The sensuality that emanates from the fabrics and materials worked by hand could only touch us, of course. Beyond its aesthetic beauty, the film addresses deep and universal questions about the search for identity, social and familial pressure, and the difficulty of choosing one’s own path. The character of Mina embodies this quest with a sincerity and vulnerability that particularly touched us.