Moroccan & African Spirit Auction at La Mamounia, Marrakesh

On 4th November, at La Mamounia, Artcurial will be highlighting the great names of modern and contemporary Moroccan and African art from a prestigious Moroccan collections. This sale will feature artworks by Melehi, Gharbaoui, Rabi', Labied, Ben Cheffaj, Soly Cissé and Abdoulaye Konaté.

Modern & Contemporary Moroccan Art

Patiently built up over the last twenty years, this exceptional collection reveals an emblematic panorama of modern and contemporary Moroccan art.

Three works by Mohamed Melehi will be on sale, including Constitution in puzzle B. This monumental work, created in 2013, brings together the iconic elements of one of Morocco's greatest artists - the flame, the wave, cellulose paint and collage - in an exceptional format of 1.80 x 3.22 metres. Unveiled at the major exhibition “Le Maroc contemporain” at the Institut du Monde Arabe in 2014, the work is estimated MAD 700,000 - 1,000,000 / €70,000 - 100,000.

It will be accompanied by Composition (1975), a cellulosic painting estimated MAD 800,000 - 1,000,000 / €80,000 - 100,000, and L'arbre de Juba II, part of a series of oil on canvas produced by the artist in 2014 and inspired by the great royal figures of ancient Africa, estimated MAD 350,000 - 500,000 / €35,000 - 50,000.

A 1965 Composition by Jilali Gharbaoui, estimated MAD 80,000 - 350,000 / €28,000 - 35,000 will be presented as well as Cavaliers by Hassan El Glaoui, estimated MAD 200,000 - 300,000 / €20,000 - 30,000.

Combining black chromaticism with subtle touches of colour, several works by Abdelkébir Rabi' will also be on sale, including Composition (2015), estimated MAD 280,000 - 350,000 / €28,000 - 35,000.

You will also find a 1974 Composition by Miloud Labied featuring the painter's characteristic figuration in a blue atmosphere, estimated MAD 200,000 - 300,000 / €20,000 - 30,000, a mixed technique by Saad Ben Cheffaj Tetouan, inspired by the painter's home town, estimated MAD 100,000 - 150,000 / €10,000 - 15,000, as well as works by Abdelbassit Ben Dahman.

Africain Contemporary Art

Major works of contemporary African art will be presented at the sale, highlighting the links and rich exchanges with the Kingdom.

Inspired by the city of Fès, Malian artist Konaté produced several monumental works in 2016, incorporating pieces of textile and embroidery from the city's master craftsmen into Malian bazin. In Composition pour Fès n°1, estimated MAD 180,000 - 250,000 / €18,000 - 25,000, the artist works with local dyers to create subtle cameos of reds, blues and blacks.

Composition (2018) by Senegalese artist Soly Cissé is a powerful work combining hybrid creatures, pictograms and Senegalese-inspired silhouettes, estimated MAD 60,000-80,000 / €6,000-8,000.

Information

Exhibition

1 November, 11am-6pm

2 November, 11am-8pm

3 November, 11am-8pm

4 November, 11am-2pm

La Mamounia, Marrakesh

View Virtual Exhibition

Auction
Moroccan & African Spirit

4 November 2023 - 5pm

La Mamounia, Marrakesh

Upcoming auctions
A Moroccan Winter

30 December 2023

La Mamounia, Marrakesh

Consignment deadline: 1 December 2023

Contacts
Artcurial Morocco 
Soraya Abid

Tel. +212 5 24 20 78 20

Artcurial Paris
Florence Conan

Tel. +33 1 42 99 16 15