Amina Agueznay

“Art can change the world by respecting individual dignity while embracing the power of collaborative creation.”

“An artist’s country of origin is not the only force at play; artistic expression is shaped by a complex set of factors”

“It is my belief that human creation – whether art, literature, music or architecture – is inherently situated”

“the most important artists of Morocco are the people who have carried forward a way of seeing and making that is unique to our collective way of life”

“Just as with music, moving away from the major key opens up new possibilities of expression: one finds depth in intimacy, emotions are not dictated but allowed to permeate, new sensations surface, note by note, and step by step”

“Crafts in Morocco involve amazing heritage skills, handed down from one generation to the next, and each artisan has their own particular voice. Some are eager to innovate, others are not, they just want to perform the same gesture”

“I do consider how the viewer will experience the work, and to me, this experience should, and does, involve all of the senses – except taste!”

“I am very conscious of the versatility of my artistic practice – it is about the matter, what materials I use and how I control them”

“It is important to understand that in Morocco, everyone is connected to craft and to handmade things. If you want to wear something to a wedding, you buy the fabric and work with the artisan to make a kaftan that is right for you. We appreciate these skills and the relationship between the person who commissions the work and the person who meets those expectations. It is natural.”

“Everyone has something to express, and if we can help them find an outlet for their creative process—that keeps craft alive”

“where there is commitment, there is excellence”

“I usually think of myself as a conductor, but sometimes I like to be a musician, too”

“My interaction with artisanship is very different—I’m not interested in the object; I’m interested in the human beings who make objects”

“I trust the hand, the collaborative process, the communication among people who share their talents”

“I don’t really think about boundaries”

“What I remember most is the desire for immediacy, for tactility. You can’t hug a building”