In September 2022, British Council Visual Arts offered grants of up to £10,000 to UK and eligible international biennials/festivals to showcase contemporary visual artists’ work. 13 projects were funded, enabling almost 50 visual and performance artists to participate in UK and international biennials.
As part of the British Council's objective to support cultural connections between Morocco and the UK, “Art Speaks: Louder than Words” is a cultural programme that brings together exhibitions, talks, workshops, and music events.
The programme, developed by UK-based curator Christine Eyene, aims to explore the power of art to communicate and provoke meaningful dialogue on various socio-cultural issues. One of the key events supported by the British Council is the exhibition of British-Mauritius artist Shiraz Bayjoo.
who works with film, painting, photography, performance, and installation. His research-based practice focuses on personal and public archives, addressing cultural memory and postcolonial nationhood in a manner that challenges dominant cultural narratives. He recently presented solo exhibitions at the Venice and Sharjah Biennales.
Bayjoo's fabric-based sculptural installation for Casablanca, titled "Pu Travers Sa Dilo" (To Cross This Water), premiered on 3rd June at Fondation Ali Zaoua's Centre Culturel Les Etoiles de Sidi Moumen. Drawing inspiration from archival images of Creole musicians, Swahili dhows, illustrations of early European expeditions along the East African coast, and captured slave ships, the artwork engages with the complexities of colonial histories, migration, social and climate justice, feminism, personal and collective memory, and the imaginative space as a site for agency and subversion.
The creation of "Pu Travers Sa Dilo" was a collaborative process that extended beyond Shiraz Bayjoo's design work in the UK. Bringing the raw materials to Morocco, Bayjoo engaged with a women's association from the Sidi Moumen neighborhood, forming a partnership that enriched the artwork's creation. Together, the artist and the women from the association spent dedicated time assembling the installation, weaving their collective stories and experiences into the fabric of the artwork.
This collaboration not only allowed for a meaningful exchange of ideas and skills but also served as a platform to empower and showcase the talents of these women. Their involvement in the artistic process brought a deeper layer of community engagement to "Pu Travers Sa Dilo". Their contributions were recognized and celebrated as they proudly participated in the official opening of the exhibition, sharing their stories and perspectives with the wider audience.
With the support of the British Council, “Art Speaks: Louder than Words” provides a platform for artists like Shiraz Bayjoo to showcase their thought-provoking work and foster cross-cultural exchanges. By promoting dialogue and understanding through the language of art, this programme seeks to encourage engagement with pressing global issues and celebrate the transformative power of artistic expression.