Ardna
Ardna, an Arabic term meaning “our land”, is an installation consisting of an olive tree and a carpet of ash around it. Wrapping and protecting the plant, the ash represents a natural fertilizer for its roots and, at the same time, draws geometries traceable to a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian resilience and resistance. The ash becomes an emblem of hope, which, in the same way that it strengthens the olive tree and its belonging to the land, aims to do the same with the people of Palestine. In Ardna, execution and process are integral to the final installation. While composing the keffiyeh, the artist enters a state of meditation and spirituality, sifting the ash with precise and sequential movements as if it were an act of devotion.
Artist’s statement
In my artistic practice and research, which is constantly evolving, I use poor and simple materials such as powders and natural pigments. These mediums allow me to make ephemeral works in a limited time, destined to disappear after much devotion.
In a way, the work and time committed to these creations, by their very nature fragile and transitory, acquire value. I am very attached to indigenous people around the world, and one of my purposes is to help enhance their cultural customs that are disappearing. For this reason, I felt the need to put forward a very critical issue through my practice. I hope that, through my own contribution, I can help give visibility to the issue and raise awareness despite the media censorship that is taking place.
Bio
Born in 1995, Mohammed El Hajoui is an artist originally from Morocco. Graduated in Graphic Design and Art Direction at NABA, in Milan, he began to develop his artistic practice. In 2022, El Hajoui won a special award of the Arte Laguna Prize in Venice, which provided him the opportunity to participate in the Fabrica artistic residency. In 2023, as a finalist in the Arte Laguna Prize, he exhibited the Radici project in Venice, at the Arsenale, and later in Milan.
