Morocco
Rabat
2021
10
English
French
In a nutshell
The compelling work of Yoriyas, a distinguished photographer and performance artist hailing from Casablanca, offers a profound exploration of urban dynamics. His unique artistic trajectory began with a background as a professional breakdancer, coupled with a deep engagement in mathematics and chess, before his pivotal transition to photography in 2015. Through a vibrant and intuitive lens, Yoriyas delves into the multifaceted utilization of city spaces, meticulously capturing the evolving tapestry of daily life and societal transformation across Morocco and the broader African continent. Garnering international acclaim, his evocative imagery has been featured in prestigious publications such as the New York Times, highlighting his significant contribution to contemporary art and the ongoing discourse surrounding urban experience.
Why should you watch this?
This compelling exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience the urban landscape anew through the transformative lens of Yoriyas, an artist whose work profoundly explores movement and human interaction within contemporary cityscapes. In an era marked by rapid urbanization and evolving public spaces, Yoriyas’s compositions resonate deeply, inviting viewers to perceive their surroundings with fresh eyes. His distinctive background in dance, mathematics, and chess shines through in his photographic practice, creating images that are not only masterfully balanced but also rich in complex layers, mirroring the intricate dynamics of modern life. Furthermore, this showcase features his latest project, born from a recent residency, which delves into the captivating world of parkour and other performance art forms, directly engaging with the city alongside the Parkour59 association. This exploration underscores the vital role of art in reclaiming and reinterpreting urban environments, offering profound insights into how physical expression can redefine public space and foster new narratives of identity and community. By immersing yourself in Yoriyas’s work, you will uncover how his innovative spirit invites a critical look at the world around us, ensuring you walk away with new insights and a deeper appreciation for the complexities of urban existence and human connection in our rapidly evolving world.
Curator
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili (Yoriyas)
Bio
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili, known as Yoriyas, is a photographer and performance artist based in Casablanca, Morocco. With a passion for mathematics and chess and roots in hip-hop culture, he initially made a name for himself as a professional breakdancer before transitioning to photography in 2015. His photographic work explores how people inhabit and make public urban spaces their own, documenting daily life and change across Morocco and Africa. Yoriyas’s intuitive and colorful observations of urban environments have been featured in publications like the New York Times and National Geographic. His images are noted for their masterful composition, which reflects his interest in mathematics and chess through their balanced yet complex, multi-layered scenes.
Artist
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili (Yoriyas)
Bio
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili, known as Yoriyas, is a photographer and performance artist based in Casablanca, Morocco. With a passion for mathematics and chess and roots in hip-hop culture, he initially made a name for himself as a professional breakdancer before transitioning to photography in 2015. His photographic work explores how people inhabit and make public urban spaces their own, documenting daily life and change across Morocco and Africa. Yoriyas’s intuitive and colorful observations of urban environments have been featured in publications like the New York Times and National Geographic. His images are noted for their masterful composition, which reflects his interest in mathematics and chess through their balanced yet complex, multi-layered scenes.