Marrakech Biennale MB6:Street Art parallel Project

Theres always a first time for everything and the saying is true for this years Marrakech Biennale. For the first time since its beginning in 2004 the MB6 has opened its walls to street art. Eleven leading international and local street artists have been invited to Morocco to participate in the 6th Edition of the Biennale as part of the MB6: Street Art parallel project.

Photo © Ian Cox

One week ahead of the opening of the Biennale, artists Mad C (Germany), Dotmaster (UK), Giacomo RUN (Italy), Dag Insky (France), Kalamour (Morocco), Alexey Luka (Russia), LX.ONE (France), Lucy McLauchlan (UK), Remi Rough (UK), Sickboy (UK) and Yesbee (UK) are busy creating murals in key public spaces that include the rooftops of the souks in the Medina (‘Gallery in the Sky’), Bahia Palace area, the walls around Gueliz, the new part of Marrakech and in the city of Essaouira.

Photo © Ian Cox

Marrakech, often referred to as the “Rose City” or “Red City”, earns its name from buildings in the ancient medina painted entirely salmon pink, Dot Masters uses this nickname of the city in his mural.

Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Dot Masters Photo © Ian Cox

Moroccan architecture and design is renowned for its tiled patterns and motifs which in themselves represent a form of street art, Sickboy incorporated these patterns in their design.

Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox

Mad C projected vibrant colours onto the salmon walls.

Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox

Remi Rough continued suit

Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox

Yesbee in the centre of the action.

Photo © Ian Cox

LX.ONE threw up some seriuosly cool shapes.

Remi Rough Yesbee and LX.ONE couldn’t resist a collabaration…

Lucy McLauchlan keeps with the tone of the city with her delicate earthy wall.

Giacomo Bufarini RUN paints many walls in his signature style.

Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox
Photo © Ian Cox

Earlier this month, Giacomo Bufarini RUN was invited to paint a 6400 square meter mural on the popular Moulay Hassan Square in Essouaira. The artwork depicts two figures communicating across borders, echoing Essaouira’s rich musical heritage and is North Africa’s largest mural.

MB6: Street Art is curated by Vestalia Chilton of ATTOLLO, documented by photographer Ian Cox and filmed by award winning film producer Jean­David Lefebvre and Vanessa Lefebre.

The project would not be possible without the support from the local Government, the generosity and kindness of the local community: E​xecutive President of the Marrakech Biennale, Mohamed Amine Kabbaj, Abury, Nomad, Cafe des Epices, BAB Groupe, Dar Beija, Kosy Bar, Association Essaouira Mogador, Institut Francais Essaouira, ATTOLLO, students at Lycee Mohamed V Essaouira, Applied Arts section and the Marrakech Biennale.

Lets hope this isn’t the last time urban art is incorporated into the festival, judging by the success of this year I’m sure street artists will be invited back to do what they do best.

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