HERE, Interactive Installation is awarded the "Contemporary Talent" prize by the François Schneider Foundation
Installtion originally conceived and is exhibited in the Nomadic Traces exhibition .
HERE_OnVimeo - Laurent Mareschal
You can watch the video at https://vimeo.com/199235639
Laurent Mareschal, Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès, Andreu Balius, Juan Luis Blanco, Salah Bellizi
The exhibition Nomadic Traces, curated by Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès, and held at Dar Bellarj in Marrakech (16 Dec 2016 –13 October 2017) is a reflection on the important role that typography and writings have played across generations, defining the cultural identity of past and present civilizations. The migrational and transformative nature of writing, its ability to freely cross borders and to mix with other writing systems, testifies to the interconnectivity of people.
In the work of the French visual artist Laurent Mareschal, entitled "Here/Ici", a poem in three languages (Arabic, French, and Amazigh) is written specially by the artist to present the idea of nomadic life and multiplicity of identity. The text uses the script of each respective language (Arabic-Maghrebi, French-Latin, and Amazigh-Tifinagh) and the Tubqal font that proved to be the most pragmatic for the task. The poem is projected on the floor of a dark and vaulted space, the text changes shapes and language in response to movement (of people and viewers) in the space, it swirls like sand in the wind, and moves like shifting sand dunes when you arrive at the center of the installation, and becomes clearer as text as you move away to the sides allowing the viewer to read the poems. The movements and change of languages is random and thus creates infinite variations.
The interactive video uses the font Tubqal, designed by Andreu Balius, Salah Eddine Bellizi, and Juan Luis Blanco, and developed within the framework of the type design research project, Typographic Matchmaking in the Maghrib.
Typographic Matchmaking in the Maghrib
The 3rd edition of the multi-script typographic research project of the Khatt Foundation
Will be launching in September 2015 Curator: Huda Smitshuijzen-AbiFares Assistant Curator: Brahim Boucheikha
TMM3 Andalusia Research Trip and workshop II
A brief report on the second research trip to Granada and Cordoba 26 November — 3 December 2015
The workshop in Andalusia was a good follow up on the Marrakech project launch!
Season's Greetings from Khatt Foundation
Best wishes from the Typographic Matchmaking in the Maghrib Team for a prosperous New Year 2015
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