Carrefour / Meeting Point - The Marrakech Biennale and beyond

Où sommes-nous maintenant? Where are we now? Wo stehen wir heute?” was the title of and question raised by the 5th Marrakech Biennale, whose artistic director, Alya Sebti, also devised the exhibition “Carrefour / Meeting Point” for the ifa Galleries Stuttgart and Berlin. The title of the ifa exhibition sees Marrakech and the biennial as a metaphorical centre where different paths cross. Morocco’s capital and the biennale were and still are the interface and meeting point between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb. They form a link to Europe, a turntable between north and south and east and west. Works from the Marrakech Biennale 2014 and projects that were newly developed for “Carrefour / Meeting Point” look at the permeability between public spaces and private realms. The artists Saâdane Afif, Leila Alaoui, Yassine Balbzioui, Max Boufathal, and Clara Meister explore possible ways addressing our vulnerability and our position in the world – in the form of sculptures, installations, and sound and video works. Megumi Matsubara developed a new form of exhibition, having a special perfume created for “Carrefour / Meeting Point” by a Moroccan perfumer. In and with these works, the artists create a further new space for encounter, exchange and collaboration. With our “Spot on . . . “series, in recent years the ifa Galleries in Stuttgart and Berlin have presented international biennials supported by ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen). The aim was to present lesser-known biennials in Germany and also to raise awareness of these international ifa activities. A recent publication will be available in the exhibition and in the online shop on www.ifa.de . Opening at ifa Gallery Stuttgart: 7 Mai 2015, 19 Uhr The exhibition will be on view at ifa Gallery Berlin from 17th July - 13th September 2015 RELATED EVENTS: Artist and Curators Talk & Preview Wednesday, 6 Mai 2015, 16.30 – 18.00 Saâdane Afif, Leila Alaoui, Megumi Matsubara and Clara Meister present their works; curator Alya Sebti explains the exhibition concept. There will be an opportunity to enjoy an aperitif and talk with the artists and curator. "Pas de Deux und darüber hinaus" - book presentation + panel Discussion Thursday, 11 Juni 2015, 19.00 “Carrefour” is a new meeting place, following on from “Pas de Deux: 5 x 2 x 2” in Villa Romana in Florence in 2013, when five encounters between artists from the southern and curators from the northern and eastern Mediterranean took place. These Mediterranean dialogues devised by Alya Sebti and Angelika Stepken are published in the book of the same name, which will also be presented, discussed and continued in “Carrefour”. Speakers and panelists: Alya Sebti and Angelika Stepken, director of Villa Romana, the artist Simohammed Fettaka (Tangier/Paris) and the curator Basak Senova (Istanbul). www.ifa.de