This series, Ain Diab or the Source of the Wolves, describes the evolution of Moroccan society, observed through the religious prism. Born in Morocco, photographer Karen Assayag has seen the country change, and more noticeably the past five years.
She chose to photograph this change by observing a microcosm representative of the Moroccan society of a big city: the beach of Ain Diab in Casablanca. This beach concentrates the different types of populations and has seen many changes over the last years. In the 1970s, were held very popular competitions of Miss Bikini. Today, almost no woman is bathing in a swimsuit. The territory is changing with the mentalities. The place of women is increasingly reduced in favor of men.
Curator: Sabrina Budon
Karen Assayag was born in Casablanca, Morocco. She lived there 17 years before moving to Paris. She worked in an advertising agency for 11 years, leaving in 2012 to devote herself exclusively to photography. She has been represented by the Hans Lucas agency since 2013. She was a finalist of the 2013 Fashion Talent Scholarship, exhibited at Photo Doc at the Maison de la Photographie in Lille and some of her photographs are represented by the American gallery owner Daniel Miller.
She teaches photography to children, in public schools, as well as to adults at Graine de Photographe. She runs an art therapy workshop at the Trousseau Hospital for troubled teens. She produces portraits and documentary series on the evolution of Moroccan society: she illustrated with about thirty portraits of Moroccan youth the book ” Des jeunes, des cris” (Young people, shouts) Ahmed Ghayat (editions Le Fennec).
Karen Assayag : Ain Diab ou la Source des Loups
GALERIE GRAINE DE PHOTOGRAPHE
14, quai de Béthune, 75004 Paris
www.biennalephotomondearabe.com
