PAYSAGE EN MOROCCO
It
is interesting to note, that I never feel the urge to do architectural
depictions in South Africa. However, my
visit to Greece in 1988 spawned a complete exhibition dedicated to the architecture in Athens and Sifnos.
I think ‘feeling safe in your environment’, allows
ideas to flourish in a natural way. In South Africa, we have safety issues to consider and become reluctant to move around in the older parts of our cities that are steeped in
character. I feel robbed of my sense of
belonging, my roots, and I am only allowed fond memories of places I
frequented in my youth.
When it became public knowledge that I would be
visiting ancient Marrakech, Fez and Casablanca in 2005, the comments always
centered around how ‘colorful Morocco’, would influence my work. The truth is that Morocco is colorless! It is a typical dessert city similar to Cairo,
where the earthy coffee-, cream- and beige tints and hues of the inhabitants,
architecture and surrounds, become the canvas on which the color is
artificially added, by cleverly incorporating bright and colorful textiles and
paint.
The local product 'brou de Noix' (extract of nuts) which is used by the calligraphers, was the medium with which I could express myself best.
Paysage en Morocco:'FES' brou de Noix 490 x 370 mm 2005 sold
In
this panorama or view on to ‘Fes’, I decided to omit more than half of the
satellite dishes that were visible. (I simply found them too distasteful, as
they had no place in the Biblical fragrance that emanates from this ancient
city)
My vantage point for ‘Fes’, was the rooftop of
a Persian carpet dealer. The top of the building was strewn with newly washed
carpets that were drying in the sun.
Although I had the luxury of a 360˚ view from where I stood, it was the
tiny slice containing three Cypresses etched against the cloudless sky, which
reminded me that besides myself, I was not the only ‘living one’ there. Although I knew that Fez was teeming with life, no living
soul was visible from above. The
Cypresses were guarding the secrets of the city like so many other sentinels
one finds on guard at a cemetery.
