Some thoughts on dimensions we should learn to navigate in the desert.
caravans
à l'épreuve du tamis /
Next Thursday, the 20th February, Le 18 Marrakech presents a collective exhibition curated by Fatima-Zahra Lakrissa, À l’épreuve du tamis, with artists Mohamed Arejdal, Nassim Azarzar, Ihsane Boudrig M’barek Bouhchichi, Khadija El Abyad, Abdeljalil Saouli and the projects Caravane Tighmert and Festival International d’Art Indigène.
Graphic design: Nassim Azarzar
Text: Fatima-Zahra Lakrissa
As a part of Caravane Tighmert, there will be audio interviews, pictures, textes and drawings from the researches developed during 10 years in the desert that have been used by artists for their contemporary creations. This kind of archive is online through the following websites:
www.caravanetighmert.com
This is a parallel project of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair that will take place in Marrakech (20-23 February).
sahara desert and cinema (and myself) /
Some thoughts on films related to Sahara desert and the influences in my researches. Click on image.
qafila rabiaa: episode 1 /
Since 2016 I develop a practical research on caravans and nomadism, walking through the same routes caravans did in the past. You will find more information on our website (click on the image).
The 4th caravan will be a short one, a way to make discover some artists friends what it means to walk with nomads and to live in the middle of the desert. We will start next week in a point between Zagora and Foum Zguid and we will arrive one week later to M’hamid El Ghizlane where we will attend Taragalte Festival and we will share the culture of the desert with people from Mauritania, Mali, Niger…
This is the “theoretical” route we will follow, then, the desert and the nomads will say…
qafila rabiaa: episode 1 /
As a continuation of our practical research on caravans (in the framework of Project Qafila), we are already working on Qafila Rabiaa: Episode 1.
The first episode will be a short trek of 7 days (90 km) starting near Zagora and arriving to M’hamid El Ghizlane. Dates will be the last week of October or the first one of November. It has been thought to introduce some contemporary artists and researches to nomad life in the Saharan desert.
This is a possible route:
More information coming soon.
espacios desérticos y creación contemporánea /
Conferencia del pasado 12 de febrero 2019 en el Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza “Mariemma” de Madrid sobre espacios desérticos y creación contemporánea, basado en nuestras experiencias en el desierto y especialmente con los proyectos Caravane Tighmert y Project Qafila.
chergui #001 2019 /
Le 18 is an independent culture centre based in Marrakesh. Last week they presented a new publication on contemporary art with contributors that have participated to their multiples art activities. Its founder, Moroccan photographer Laila Hida, asked me to share my research on caravans, in the framework of Project Qafila, but from her own perspective, approaching the narration of my travel story by the fictionality that allows the internet tools.
qafila project analog pictures and videos /
When I started Project Qafila in 2016 I wanted to use only analog cameras, for pictures and for videos, in order to do not carry extra batteries or a solar charger. For Qafila Oula I used Sprocket Rocket and Lomokino cameras with different Ilford films (Hp5 plus 400, Delta 400 and XP2 400).
Pictures taken with the Lomokino:
Video made with the Lomokino:
In 2017, for Beyond Qafila Thania, I used again the Sprocket Rocket and I tried a 16mm Bolex SBM but it stopped working from the second shot
These are the pictures taken with the Sprocket Rocket using 400 Ilford films:
In 2018, after sending the Bolex to be repaired, I could use it but it broke partially, being able to shot not more than 4 seconds during Qafila Thalitha:
For pictures I used for the first time a Leica M6 with Kodak Tri-X 400 TX films.
talks and round tables in 2018 /
This year I had the chance to talk in Ceuta, Fez, Zagora, Bir Gandouz (Dakhla) and Marrakesh about Saharan caravans, architectural heritage, nomadism, territory and urban planning in the desert, water and contemporary culture. Thanks a lot to Aula permanente de formación abierta (Granada University), Takafes, Forum International des Oasis, Ministère de l’Aménagement (Morocco) and Le 18 for trusting me.
qafila thalitha story maps /
QAFILA THALITHA STORY MAP is an interactive map with pictures, videos, texts and the exactly route we followed during this practical research on caravans we develop in the framework of Marsad Drâa. More information: www.projectqafila.com
qafila thalitha bolex 16mm /
In October we did Qafila Thalitha, the third part of a practical research on caravans. We walked 330km between Tissint (Tata) and Tighmert (Guelmim) in the Moroccan desert. The logistic was provided by Said Razgui and his brother Mouloud and the nomad Omar came with me.
Us usual we tried several mediums and formats to document the experience. This is the uncut version of the video made with a 16mm Bolex.
More information in: www.projectqafila.com
qafila thalitha /
After Qafila Oula et Beyond Qafila Thania, it is time to start working on Qafila Thalitha (the third caravan) that we will do in October 2018.
More information on Project Qafila: www.projectqafila.com
saharan caravans talk /
A talk (in Spanish but you can enable english subtitles) about Saharan caravans I gave last 12th January in Ceuta.
More information on caravans: www.projectqafila.com