Abdallah El Hariri
Biography
Abdallah El Hariri, Portrait | © Yassine Toumi, Courtesy Comptoir des Mines
Abdallah El Hariri (b. 1949, Casablanca) is a prominent Moroccan artist whose contributions have profoundly shaped modern art in Morocco. A key figure of the Casablanca School, El Hariri was part of a revolutionary artistic movement in the 1960s and 70s that sought to break away from colonial artistic norms and reconnect with local heritage. Through his innovative approach, he fused geometric abstraction, calligraphy, and traditional Islamic patterns to create a visual language that blends modernist aesthetics with Moroccan identity.
El Hariri's journey as an artist began at the École des Beaux-Arts in Casablanca, where he studied from 1965 to 1969. In the years that followed, he became an integral member of the Casablanca avant-garde movement, collaborating with renowned artists such as Farid Belkahia, Mohamed Melehi, and Hossein Miloudi. Together, they redefined Moroccan contemporary art, reshaping the cultural landscape of the country. El Hariri’s first solo exhibition in Casablanca in 1973 marked the beginning of a distinguished career that would see his work exhibited in prestigious venues around the world.
An advocate for the arts, El Hariri played a key role in the creation of several cultural institutions, including the Moroccan Association of Plastic Arts (AMAP), the Union of Moroccan Plastic Artists, the Cité des Arts, and the Village of Artists' Studios association. These initiatives helped shape the cultural identity of Morocco and inspired future generations of artists.
El Hariri's artistic practice has been enriched by experiences abroad. In 1973, he furthered his studies at the European Institute of Architecture and Design in Rome, followed by a formative engraving workshop in Lodz, Poland, in 1980. These international experiences deepened his understanding of artistic techniques and materials, which he later applied to his innovative work.
Known for his mastery of form and the dynamic interplay of letters, El Hariri’s art explores the symbolic and material dimensions of signs. His calligraphy transcends language, becoming a meditation on the power of symbols and their capacity to communicate identity, history, and culture. El Hariri’s legacy as a pioneering figure in Moroccan and modern Islamic art continues to inspire and influence artists worldwide.
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