Casablanca – The Aziz Abou Ali exhibition “The Solitude of Forms” opened its doors over the weekend from February 15 to June 10 at Villa Harris museum in Tangier.
It is organized by the National Foundation of Museums in partnership with Marsam gallery, who describes it as a “journey into the universe of Aziz Abou Ali where figuration and abstraction interact, between body and disappearance, confinement and resistance, rigor and freedom of gesture.”
“An occasion for exchange and sharing around the works of this artist, one of the key figures of modern Moroccan art.”
Villa Harris, a landmark in Tangier, provides a historic and cultural setting for the exhibition. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions of modern and contemporary Moroccan art, making it a significant platform for both established and emerging artists.
Born in 1935, Aziz Abou Ali studied art in Marrakech before moving to Spain. He is known for his painting, engraving, and drawing, and is considered a key figure in modern Moroccan art.
In the “The Solitude of Forms” Abou Ali presents his work as a unified body of art highlighting constant tensions between figuration and abstraction, body and disappearance, confinement and inner freedom.
Through paintings, drawings, engravings, and sculptures, Abou Ali explored the human figure in a deeply personal way. Figures are often reduced, fragmented, or faceless. The body becomes a vessel of emotion, silence, and resistance.
Known as a master of engraving and sometimes called the “engraver of solitude,” Ali applied extreme rigor to every line. His austere compositions evoke silent figures confronting emptiness.
It is more than just an exhibition, it’s a chance to revisit and celebrate the work of one of Morocco’s key modern artists and keep his vision alive.
Read also: ‘Seeking Forever’: Ahlam Lemseffer’s Four-Decade Artistic Journey in Casablanca
