Territories is an ongoing journey through an enigmatic Moroccan landscape and an architectural exploration of the forms shaping the country’s peri-urban spaces.
On the fringes of cities and rural areas, buildings assume mysterious, intriguing, and at times surreal forms. Yet they all share a sincere desire to belong and to anchor themselves within their local territory. The dialogue that emerges between these constructions and their surroundings reveals the intimate relationship between individuals and the territories they inhabit.
Most of the structures documented in this work are intended to become homes or commercial premises; others remain abandoned or unfinished landscapes. Their functions are often determined by the nature of the subdivision, its regulations, geographical location, importance within the allotment, and the position of the plot itself.
The transformations of society changes in ways of living, production and consumption patterns, urbanization processes, the circulation of information, and the evolving role of the State have a direct impact on architectural production. Architecture accompanies and reflects technical, economic, and social transformations. Equally significant is the influence of Western models, whether adopted or simply aspired to, often perceived as the only possible future for developing societies.
This series seeks to identify forms of resistance to these somewhat prefabricated visions and to examine the multiple forces that shape contemporary Moroccan landscapes.
Through this project, I attempt to convey the strange and abstract sense of wonder that these environments evoke in me scenes that become open allegories and invite lyrical interpretations. This abstraction becomes a way of questioning our relationship to territory and asking: How do we imagine and build new forms of inhabitation in a country undergoing profound transformation?
Born in 2000 in Fez, Morocco. His creative inspiration draws deeply from Morocco’s rich culture and diverse landscapes. His work explores themes of territoriality, emphasizing the identity of places and individuals, as well as the complex relationships that people maintain with their environment and community.
In 2019, his photographs were exhibited at the inauguration of the National Museum of Photography in Rabat, as well as at the second edition of the Africa Photo Festival in New York. In 2020, he received the contempARTE Prize, awarded by the University of Huelva in Spain, for his photographic series En el Mar. That same year, he co-founded the collective Noorseen to promote young Moroccan photographers on the international scene.
His series Territories won the Face à la Mer Grand Prize in Tangier in 2021 and was exhibited at the Cairo PhotoFestival in 2022. Amine’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. His photographs have been exhibited in Tangier, Marrakech, Essaouira, Casablanca, and Rabat, as well as in Turin, Paris, and Cairo.
Currently based in Tangier, Amine is working on a documentary project exploring the city’s urban expansion. His work highlights the impact of this growth on the landscape and the inhabitants of Tangier, reflecting his ongoing commitment to capturing the essence of Moroccan culture and its transformations.
© Text and pictures by Amine Houari
