The Rock Became the Object Itself

2019

Embroidery on textile 115 x 75 cm, lead, bricks, tape

Installation at LE18, Marrakech shown during | MA / W∀|

Molybdomancy (divination using molten metal) by Fatima Mehdi

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The Rock Became the Object Itself is an installation about chouaffas and Moroccan fortune telling cards. Chouaffas are clairvoyantes who use Carta, handreading, and shapes formed out of melted lead, to predict the future and offer psychological support, in search for answers concerning marriage, children or the loyalty of a husband. Their practice has become largely marginalized, on one side it’s not accepted by religion and on the other because many of them practice black magic. The Rock Became the Object Itself tells a personal story based on different readings I had from chouaffas in the medina of Marrakech. The story revolves around transformation, desires and mirroring behaviours wherein bricks and suits are the construction blocks of a transformation field of fictional figures (myself) in search of magic.

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(c) Abdelhak Acim

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