Art in Faces: Why do You Need Mous Lamrabat in Your Life
Imagine a world where Moroccan carpets double as superhero capes and McDonald's arches glow like divine symbols in the desert. Welcome to the universe of Mous Lamrabat and his “MoroccAndy” aesthetic—a mashup of Moroccan tradition and Andy Warhol’s pop culture obsession. So, let’s unwrap the candy!
Born in Morocco in 1983 and raised in Belgium, Mous found inspiration in an exhibition by JR, a French photographer of the same age. In particular, he was struck by 28mm: Portrait of a Generation (2004-2006), a series of black-and-white portraits from the banlieues of Paris, plastered onto street walls. That moment became a turning point for Mous.
After that, he began his first photographic experiments at home—with his massive family. Being one of nine siblings (yes, nine!), he built an entire archive of photos featuring aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. That’s how he developed his eye—by capturing everyday life, one relative at a time. In recent years, Lamrabat has become known for his photographic series set in his invented world, Mousganistan, as well as his striking fashion photography.
The artist describes his creative process quite simply: something bothers him, and that’s where the magic starts. His conceptual work isn’t designed to provoke but to start a conversation. His images, often humorous and surreal, make people stop and think. Why is there a woman in a djellaba wearing a Spider-Man mask? Why is a veiled woman holding a Happy Meal? At first, it might seem like a joke, but then you realize—he’s showing us how cultures aren’t as separate as we think. He wants us to see how much we actually have in common.
Mous Lamrabat’s work doesn’t just mix East and West—it reminds us that those lines were imaginary to begin with, embracing both with humor and a killer color palette. He builds bridges. And if that means Spider-Man has to wear a djellaba, so be it.
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Very interesting to learn about contemporary artists, thank you! ☺️