monumental leila alaoui exhibition at galleria continua seeks to rediscover humanity

leila alaoui: je te pardonne
galleria continua, les moulins
now through september 25, 2016

in january 2016, during a photographic assignment on women’s rights in burkina faso, french-moroccan photographer and video artist leila alaoui was killed in the terrorist attacks of ouagadougou. a foundation set-up to preserve her work seeks to defend her values and inspire artistic engagement for human dignity.

installation view of the moroccans (series), 2010-2014 at galleria continua | 
prints on wallpaper
 | variable dimensions
photo by oak taylor-smith, all images courtesy the artist and galleria continua, san gimignano/beijing/les moulins/habana

at galleria continua, les moulins an exhibition organized in collaboration with the leila alaoui foundation presents a monumental collection of the artist’s most significant work. ‘je te pardonne’ (I forgive you) is not intended as an homage, rather a search for humanity in the wake of tragedy. 

alaoui first trained as a documentary photographer, focusing on excluded communities from the vantage point of those relegated to the margins of society. simultaneously an observer and participant, alaoui imagines an affinity with each individual, where she looks at and listens to the stories they share. the transparency of her work dissolves the prejudice of the pictured figure as an ‘exotic specimen’ and returns to the idea of communion between human beings.

installation view of the moroccans (series), 2010-2014 at galleria continua | 
prints on wallpaper
 | variable dimensions
photo by oak taylor-smith

installation view of the moroccans (series), 2010-2014 at galleria continua | 
prints on wallpaper
 | variable dimensions
photo by oak taylor-smith

the moroccans – souk de boumia, moyen atlas, 2011 | print on paper | variable dimensions

the moroccans – souk de boumia, moyen atlas, 2011 | print on paper | variable dimensions

the moroccans – souk de tounfite, moyen atlas, 2011 | print on paper | variable dimensions