“Un air d’été”: An Eclectic Showcase of Summer’s Artistic Charms at Abla Ababou Gallery

As the sun begins its radiant ascent and the world dresses itself in a vibrant tapestry of colors, the anticipation of summer fills the air. From June 15th to July 29th, 2023, the “Un air d’été” exhibition, a collective gathering of 18 artists from diverse backgrounds, has found its home at the Abla Ababou Gallery in Rabat.

The summer season beckons, bringing with it a symphony of light and an explosion of vivid hues. The air is ripe with leisurely strolls and the yearning for distant places. Imagination takes flight, and around this thematic ode to summer, 18 artists play their part.

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Oil paintings, drawings, collages, photographs, plaster and wood bas-reliefs, time-patinated steels – a myriad of mediums are employed to pay homage to the sunlit days.

Styles and sensibilities flourish. Malika Demnati, Hélène Brugnes, and Zora Lahlou lead us to the Moroccan beaches where families, veiled women, and those in bikinis coexist. It’s this mosaic of coexistence that embodies the country’s diversity. Diverse mentalities blend together, and so do landscapes, as evidenced by the omnipresence of the ocean in the works of many artists. Tangier native Najoua El Hitmi ceaselessly paints the rolling waves through bold brushstrokes, while a vivid blue dominates all the canvases of Assilah-born Souhail Ben Azzouz.

Far from the fiery colors, the maritime horizons of German artist Michael Gatzke are veiled in grays and somber tonalities. For other painters, summer takes on the flavor of nature.

Nature appears lush and exotic in the works of Christophe Miralles, while it takes on a more desert-like form in Mohamed Mourabiti’s pieces.

Wanderlust and dreams are integral to the exhibition as well. Laila Benhalima invites us on a journey with her culturally rich characters immersed in dreamlike landscapes. Meanwhile, Guy Calamusa and Sonia Hamza share their memories of Moroccan summer vacations, intertwining blur and whimsical symbols.

To embrace the realm of fantasy, Christian Mamoun, Ines El Mansouri, Itaf Benjelloun, and Florence Arnold bring our imaginations to life by depicting characters seemingly plucked from a summer reverie.

Between reality and imagination, the rest of the artists take us on a visual journey, offering a leisurely stroll where summer is synonymous with lightness.

“Un air d’été” isn’t merely an exhibition; it’s an encapsulation of the spirit of the season. Each stroke of the brush, each photograph, and each piece of art whispers the essence of summer, weaving stories that resonate with the warmth and enchantment this time of year brings. As visitors meander through the gallery, they’re not just witnessing art; they’re enveloped in a symphony of creativity, celebrating the magic of summer in all its forms.