Taking its title from a song by Yoko Ono, the exhibition explores the politics of space and place and is an invitation to see and know the world differently. The exhibition at the MACAAL – Museum of African Contemporary Art Al-Maaden – features work from a selection of emerging and established international artists including Yoko Ono (USA), Kapwani Kiwanga (Canada-France), Rahima Gambo (Nigeria) and Amina Benbouchta (Morocco). Through a variety of media and with several new commissions, HAVE YOU SEEN A HORIZON LATELY? sees participating artists question their lived environment in a sensitive and committed way.

Whether inspired by architecture, urban archaeology and landscape or personal geographies in relationship to the body and history, the work of these contemporary artists resonates strongly with some of the most pressing issues in the world today. Questions around ecology, the unequal distribution of wealth and power, the colonisation of territories, situations of oppression, and fixed and reductive conceptions of identity are all themes explored in the exhibition.

An exhibition beyond the borders of the African continent

Drawing on their own experiences, a number of artists use their environment as a starting point. Maxwell Alexandre draws inspiration from his life in the favela Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro to create a complex and engaged narrative around the tense context of Brazil. His in situ installation of paintings on brown paper created specifically for MACAAL addresses social, cultural and political issues.

Akira Ikezoe‘s paintings refer to the experience of navigating between the cultural differences of typical Eastern and Western representations. Her paintings depict figures known as Coconut heads, illustrating themes such as cultural stereotypes and socio-economic power imbalances.
Kiluanji Kia Henda‘s video installation examines the architectural elements of his hometown, Luanda, in relation to the colonial past of Angola and the African continent.

Kapwani Kiwanga sees archives as a historical, political and symbolic power, as evidenced by her Flowers for Africa series. The practice of artist and architect Felipe Arturo focuses on urban planning in relation to politics, history and geography. His work is profoundly influenced by vernacular architecture and building and production techniques resistant to colonial and post-colonial processes.

An anthropological interest in the living conditions of minorities is evident in the work of Daniel Otero Torres. Lluvia, his impressive installation presented at MACAAL, is the result of his encounters with the Emberá community, whose polluted water decontamination system he studied. In a dynamic video installation, Gaëlle Choisne addresses the issue of disasters, the exploitation of resources and the stigma of colonialism.

The exhibition is curated by Marie-Ann Yemsi who works alongside scenographer Franck Houndegla. Conceived as a poetic journey where one theme leads through to another, the exhibition creates a network of interlinking positions and considerations, showing art’s unique ability to question our limits and challenge our perceptions.

Participating Artists

Maxwell Alexandre – Farah Al Qasimi – Felipe Arturo – Amina Benbouchta – Gaëlle Choisne – Rahima Gambo – Akira Ikezoe – Kiluanji Kia Henda – Kapwani Kiwanga – Yoko Ono – Daniel Otero Torres – Sandrine Pelletier

This exhibition is temporarily closed to the public due to the Covid-19 crisis* #stayhome

Have You Seen A Horizon Lately ?

Group Show at the MACAAL – Museum of contemporary Art Al-Maaden

Al Maaden, Sidi Youssef Ben Ali
40000 Marrakech, Maroc

info@macaal.org
+212 6 76 92 44 92

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