Mohammed Drihem
Last Thursday, May 2, 2024, the Gallery of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works of Education-Training was there with the opening of the collective exhibition “Traitillism” marked by the participation of eight artists from this new 100% Moroccan artistic movement founded by the artist Afif Bennani.
Despite the existence of different styles specific to certain Moroccan visual artists, there has been no purely Moroccan movement or school. Painters have always remained influenced by foreign plastic trends. But since 1992, Afif Bennani Founder of this new plastic art movement of “Traitillism” and initiator of this collective exhibition which will continue until May 12, 2024 at the said FM6 Gallery; was obsessed with the obligation to create an authentically Moroccan movement.
In 2016, after much research and experimentation, the painter Afif Bennani finally realized his dream by finding his own style which was to take on this new movement. He focused on the style and technique of this movement by representing on the canvas an infinite number of small lines decomposing the subject that the eye knows how to recast, thus doubling the pointillism which blossomed during the last century.
In 2017, explains Afif Bennani, he tried to explain his discovery to certain painters such as Aomar Chenaai who initially had a mixed reaction. But after long discussions and practical experiments, this artist was finally convinced.
In 2018 he added; the creation of certain works with the technique and style found in this movement, a group of Moroccan painters, men and women, under the leadership of the artist Afif Bennani, met to consider the creation of a plastic movement authentically Moroccan, characterized by a particular technique and style. The study of the rules and laws of art dissuades these artists from any vulgarity by celebrating in their works: the true, the visible and beauty.
In 2022, Afif Bennani sent to the French writer and art critic, Daniel Couturier, member of the Société des gens de Lettres de France and member of the Angers Academy, some photos of his works with the new style that he represents this movement, the name of which was not yet defined.
By studying these photographs, and the technique used, Daniel Couturier launched the word: Traitillism which adapts perfectly to this movement. The word is out. Afif Bennani then decided to adopt it and launch it in front of an audience of painters.
In 2023, inviting to his workshop on Avenue Maghrib El Arabi in Rabat, a certain number of painters, men and women, who, upon seeing the paintings created by Afif Bennani with this new style and this new technique, were finally convinced of the impact of this movement. And the artist Aomar Chenaai, who was initially very reserved, became, upon seeing these paintings, a fervent defender of this movement and understood that this is a real turning point occurring in the visual arts in Morocco.
In 2024, this group of artists adopted this technique and style created by the artist Afif Bennani, exploring different themes linked to Moroccan heritage, to organize the first exhibition of this specifically Moroccan movement, under the name “LE TRAITILLISME” .
For the Artist Aicha The art of TRAITILLISM is a new 100% Moroccan concept; a new artistic movement like Pointillism and Cubism which were born in Europe.
For her ; it is a style and a technique, based solely on traits which perfectly embody my themes which are close to my heart, namely the safeguarding of the kasbahs of the South-East; the preservation of the architectural style of the old doors, of our ancestors who are durable over time and of course the Woman of my region the Amazigh woman in all her splendor.
In fact, she added, this technique perfectly embodies the values of Amazigh civilization and culture of which I am always proud.
For her, it was an Honor and a privilege to be among this elite of artists trained by Master Afif BENNANI Founder of this movement who designated us Princesses and Princes of this movement: a title that we will cherish jealously.
After expressing my deep gratitude to the President of the Med 6 Foundation Mr Youssef Bekkali for organizing this beautiful exhibition in this magnificent premises of the Med 6 Foundation which offered this precious opportunity to express their art; Aicha Arji is committed as an artist to continuing to promote and celebrate the richness of cultural heritage through her works.