The TRUE AFRICA 100 is our list of innovators, opinion-formers, game-changers, pioneers, dreamers and mavericks who we feel are shaping the Africa of today.
Hassan Hajjaj is a Moroccan multidisciplinary artist known for his bright, bold photography portraits. He moved to London from Morocco during the punk age, which has influenced his work ever since. He uses a mix of media for his work in innovative ways, such as creating portrait frames out of car tyres. He designed and curated the lounge for 1:54 Art Fair 2015, London.
Hassan’s work is in numerous museum collections such as the Brooklyn Museum, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Institut des Cultures d’Islam in Paris and the Kamel Lazaar Foundation in Tunisia. Hassan lives and works between London and Marrakech.
Why are bold women often at the centre of your work?
I grew up in a house with my mum, aunty, grandmum and three sisters while my dad was working in the United Kingdom before we could join him in the mid 70s. They’re all strong women, like all women across the world.
What creative movements in Africa are you most excited by?
There is a whole new generation doing art, literature, painting, film, design and cuisine… They’re all hungry for success and hopefully getting ready to take over the globe.
Who’s your African of the year?
I think I have to say Hadeel Ibrahim. She is a great person trying to do good things for Africa through charity, politics and art.
Check out Hassan Hajjaj’s work here
Come back tomorrow for the next TRUE Africa 100 and keep up to date using the hashtag #TRUEAfrica