"Fez Fez: Fabrizio Plessi"
2006-05-30 until 2006-07-02
Hassan Museum
Rabat, , MA Morocco

Arte Communications announces the opening of the Hassan Museum in Rabat with the exhibition project entitled 'Fez Fez' by Fabrizio Plessi. The Hassan Museum, internationally directed by Paolo De Grandis and coordinated by Fathiya Tahiri, will be housed in the historic Villa Andalucia which, with its rich historic and artistic heritage, has been able to highlight Fabrizio Plessi’s significant interest in Morocco. For the inauguration of the Museum, the artist from Emilia, though Venetian by adoption, proposes the project 'Fez Fez': an installation composed of preparatory studies on paper, bozzetti, iconographic items and a video illustrating the path that led to the conception of the work ‘Fez’ which, through virtual language, recalls the atmospheres of the wool dye-works at Fez.

The installation, presented on the occasion of the exhibition held in Berlin in 1994, is part of a cycle of works dedicated to the cities visited by Plessi, who likes to define himself as an untiring traveller, to recreate evocative environments according to his highly personal artistic viewpoint. The artist has always been interested in the use of technology combined with the classic aspects of materials, in an expressive path between the concept and the execution of the work of art; he alternates thoughts and situations in a state of apparent, unceasing change, where the videos of red water and the hanks of wool tangibly become the signified and the signifier, an expressive means of the work of art for outlining the need to restore to Morocco, in a process of cultural reappropriation, a place that has its own cultural heritage, free from any folkloristic sense.

Morocco, crossroads of cultures and ideas, of goods and knowledge. And above all of fabrics, precious witnesses of taste and custom and a privileged object of innovations and contaminations, reproposed here following the activities, interests and culture of an artist who, in his unceasing expressive research, transposes into his projects a vitality that goes beyond the limits imposed by the material. His expert manipulations change the canonical aspects of the means of expression: the video transfers the pulsating matter, releases colour, while iron, steel and wood are supporting elements which, however, never give up their own material identity. Like a great trap for the senses, 'Fez Fez' offers refuge to the emotion to enchant and envelop the onlooker in the inspired atmosphere and the unexpected sound effects of Ryuichi Sakamoto, bringing extraordinary thoughts to the surface, a continuous wandering through the soul and the unlimited richness of places and traditions. The recent partnership that has been formed between Paolo De Grandis and the Kingdom of Morocco is therefore embodied in the art of Fabrizio Plessi. This partnership has led to the creation of the Hassan Museum which will be able to bring works and projects of the highest level to Rabat.

The exhibition, curated by Paolo De Grandis and organised by Arte Communications, will be held from 30th May to 2nd July.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Morocco

Other Important Exhibitions in Morocco