Ghizlane Sahli Morocco, b. 1973
Biography
"Being an artist has always been the most beautiful thing in the world to me. I never allowed myself to dream of it, thinking it was so unattainable. But then life led me into that world".
Born in 1973 in Meknes, Morocco, and now residing in Marrakech, Morocco, Ghizlane Sahli has had a remarkable artistic journey.
After completing her architecture studies in Paris, she returned to Morocco and established herself in Marrakech. With a deep passion for embroidery and textiles, she opened a workshop where she collaborated with local artisans. Over seven years, Ghizlane immersed herself in the world of textiles, honing her skills and developing a unique vision. Her efforts were recognized in 2009 when she received the Prize for Creation at the "Trophée Couleurs."
In 2012, Ghizlane's artistic direction shifted dramatically after creating a dress from waste materials such as trash bags, jerricans, and plastic bottles for the Marrakech Mag, a local cultural magazine. Inspired by this project, she decided to close her embroidery workshop to focus on pure artistic creation. She co-founded the Zbel Manifesto collective with her sister and two photographer friends. This collective, which primarily works with waste materials, gained prominence at the Marrakesh Biennale in 2014 with their installation "Pimp My Garbage." They were subsequently invited to the inaugural exhibition of the Mohamed VI Museum in Rabat.
Currently, Ghizlane continues her innovative work alongside local artisan women, exploring new techniques with silk thread. She has developed "the Alveoles," a series of three-dimensional embroideries made from the tops of used bottles, wrapped in silk thread. Ghizlane envisions poetic, dream-like worlds where she can blend her three passions: space and volume from her architectural background, silk thread from her embroidery expertise, and environmental sustainability from her personal concerns about the future of the planet.
Ghizlane Sahli's work transcends mere material transformation, imbuing it with profound meaning and beauty. She is represented by David Bloch Gallery in Marrakech, Primo Marella Gallery in Milan, Sulger Buel Gallery in London, Sakhile&Me in Frankfurt, Firetti Contemporary in Dubai, and Lakum Art Space in Riyadh.
Her creations are part of prestigious collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London and the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech.
Works
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Ghizlane SahliHistoires de Tripes V005, 2019Embroideries and plastic waste covered with silk threads76 x 36 x 18 cm -
Ghizlane SahliEt la Sève fut... 010, 2023Plastic waste embroidered with silk on canvas104 x 74 x 16 cm
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Ghizlane SahliEt la Sève fut... 011, 2023Plastic waste embroidered with silk on canvas109 x 72 x 24 cm
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