History of Anas KHERMOUI

At first sight, the pictorial universe of this young Moroccan artist appears as a composite of influences. Or rather, a kind of crossroads fed by both the great masters and painters of the 20th century, on which he stands in  middle, in order to reveal the thread of his "Once upon a time Anas Khermoui"...

Should we see his way of mixing writings, symbols and collages on the dense surfaces of his canvases as a tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat, who worked on on the question of identity and culture? Or as a foray into Russian constructivism, with his geometric composition and almost kinetic rhythm the colors and forms? 

One could argue for hours about who inspires what. Yet for Anas, who was born in the heart of the historical medina of the city of the trade winds and ramparts, instinct and images arise permanently in his head as if he dreamed them with open eyes.

Anas’ irresistible desire to paint was born in contact with the myriad artists from all walks of life who live in Essaouira. Yet his work does not tell ONE world, but HIS world. A planet in its own right in which the whole palette of his emotions, combined with the thousands of images that this child of television and new technologies never ceases to record in his daily life, both personal and professional,  a telescope in an uninterrupted stream.

From the position that he occupies at the cultural center Dar Souiri, and from his involvement many local social and cultural associations, this bubbling spirit does not cease to quench his thirst to learn and to know. 

From the start, Anas’ imagination, freed from any fear of facing and confronting a pictorial technique of which he knew nothing, led him to use acrylics, of which he loves the texture and the rendering, to project this mix between symbolism and abstraction fed by what he sees marching in his head and in his heart.

The painting that Anas Khermoui reveals to us proposes a seductive rereading of the Amazigh culture very present and prevalent in the majestic province of Essaouira. As he cuts pages of books of local authors, which he uses as a backdrop to draw letters of the Berber alphabet, he awakens not only our intellect and artistic references, but touches our pure, raw emotions.

                                                                                                          PHILIPPE DAYAN