Fez — A historic souk in Fez is preparing to welcome a contemporary art exhibition that brings together traditional architecture, natural materials, and artistic expression.
Titled “Il était une fois un souk: Traversée intemporelle” (Once Upon a Time in a Souk: A Timeless Journey), the exhibition by visual artist Odile Guinand will open on October 18 at Souq Semmarine.
The exhibition, which will run until December 4, is part of the cultural programming surrounding the Fez Festival of Sufi Culture and World Wisdom.
According to the French Institute of Fez, visitors can explore an installation inspired by the souk’s architecture, history, and atmosphere.
Where architecture meets artistic memory
Rather than treating the souk as a conventional exhibition venue, Guinand has developed her installation around the building’s existing character.
The artist spent extended periods exploring the recently restored site, studying its architecture and atmosphere before developing her work.
Her approach seeks to establish a dialogue between contemporary artistic expression and the historical environment surrounding it.
The exhibition presents the souk as more than a commercial space. Its architecture becomes part of the artistic experience, inviting visitors to consider the stories preserved within its walls.
Through this approach, Guinand explores how physical spaces can carry personal memories and collective histories across generations.
Traditional materials take on new meaning
One of the exhibition’s defining elements is its use of materials associated with African traditions and everyday practices.
Guinand incorporates spices, beeswax, earth, animal hides, and smagh into her artistic compositions.
By removing these materials from their conventional uses, she explores their symbolic, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
The materials also connect the installation to traditional craftsmanship and the relationship between people, natural resources, and cultural practices.
Each element carries several layers of meaning, from its original purpose to its transformation into an artwork.
Visitors are invited to interpret these objects through their own experiences, adding another dimension to the stories embedded in the installation.
