Resonance–Sadaa
Dar Bellarj Foundation
Image: Maha Mouidine
- ABOUT THE EVENT -
Whilst the disastrous 6.8 magnitude earthquake which struck in the Al Haouz province of Morocco on 8th September 2023 affected predominantly rural regions in the High Atlas Mountains, the medieval Médina of Marrakech emerged as the most impacted urban area. The picture of the collapsed minaret of the Kharbouch Mosque in the Jemaa El Fnaa Square soon became a powerful representation of the damage inflicted on the tangible and intangible UNESCO-classified urban heritage of the city.
Resonance–Sadaa is a collective exhibition which brings together the powerful creative work of members of the community of the Dar Bellarj Foundation and the ESAV School of Visual Arts who took part in a series of artistic workshops in October 2024, led by Moroccan graphic artist Zineb Benjelloun. The workshops sought to provide the inhabitants of the Médina and the wider city of Marrakech with an opportunity to explore collectively and individually their lived experience of the earthquake and capture the resonance of this environmental disaster on their relationship with their everyday urban surroundings. This artistic exploration was the source of inspiration of CMC Composer Matthew Rowan’s UKRI-commissioned musical composition, 'Storyteller', featured in this multimedia exhibition.
Resonance–Sadaa ultimately aims to create a collective healing space, a space where the community’s trauma can be unearthed, its resilience celebrated, and where sustainable futures can be envisioned.
- ABOUT THE MUSIC -
'Storyteller' (for piano) by Matthew Rowan
'Storyteller' (2024) is a celebration of community and resilience in the face of a violently destructive and traumatic event. On 8th September 2023 a severe earthquake struck the Al Haouz province in Morocco, killing thousands of people and leaving many more injured, homeless and without a livelihood. Having grown up during the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland, Matthew Rowan also witnessed the impact of destructive forces on cities, towns and villages, and how communities did not yield when it would have been easier to do so. It is through the trauma of his own lived experience that he draws connections with the strength and determination evident in the people of Morocco.
This new musical work is a creative response to the collective artistic output by participants of several workshops held at the Dar Bellarj Foundation, Marrakech, in October 2024. These workshops provided an outlet for people affected by the earthquake to express memories and emotions through artwork. The three sections of 'Storyteller' are a reflection of complex emotional states drawn from a sense of community, grief and reconstruction. The title of the piece is an acknowledgment of the community as a communicator of a shared traumatic experience, where solace and understanding are sought in the endeavour to remain resilient in the aftermath of a life-changing event.
- PERFORMER -
Georgios Tsakoumakis (piano)
Tickets
Free admission, no booking needed. 'Storyteller' will be available to stream during these dates by scanning the QR code in the poster at the venue or by clicking this link.