Identity, memory, and belonging: Mous Lamrabat’s ‘Homesick’ opens in Marrakech

Temsaman-born Belgian-Moroccan photographer Mous Lamrabat is renowned for his striking style of portraiture. His work is defined by an entrancing ability to seamlessly bring together tradition and modernity. His singular style has seen Mous work with Elle, Vogue and GQ, among other brands, since debuting his first solo exhibition, Mousganistan, in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, in 2019. Now, he returns to the country of his birth with Homesick – an intimate solo show inviting reflection on identity, belonging, and the complexity of origin, composed entirely of new works.

“Some guy yelled: ‘Go back to your country!’ And I kinda did! And it feels so good!” Mous wrote on Instagram ahead of the show’s opening at Loft Art Gallery in Marrakech at 6:30 PM WET today, January 30.

Homesick comprises 20 new works by the Flemish-Moroccan artist, centring on the complicated notions of existence and identity in our so-called post-colonial world. The exhibition offers a window into Mous’ mind as he straddles two worlds: that of his Moroccan roots and that of his life in the diaspora.

Reinterpreting cultural codes through elements of pop culture, Homesick is a cross-cultural exploration of tradition, culture, evolution, and, of course, homesickness – the enduring, unrelenting pull towards the places we think of as home. 

On display until March 15, Homesick is set to transform Marrakech’s Loft Art Gallery into a space where memory, longing and existence take visual form through Mous’ deeply personal testament to his experiences and relationship with his native land – Morocco.

Marrakech’s Loft Art Gallery and Homesick will be a part of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair – the world’s first international art festival dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. The 1-54 Art Fair will run until February 2 and will feature a host of events and gatherings in Marrakech, celebrating the historic city’s rich cultural landscape.