The exhibition “Women and Digital Art, Breaking stereotypes”, is an exhibition that seeks to break down clichés and bring to the public a transgressive, disruptive and modern vision of Arab women, and also to do so through the techniques, tools and supports of digital art. A double claim signed by the international artist Houda Bakkali.
The series “Beautiful African Woman”, which will be exposed from 4 to 31 May 2019 at the National Tourism Parador of Lorca, is a tribute to the Arab woman whose inspiration is the artist’s mother. Bakkali intends with this work “to leave the legacy of doing things normally, in total equality, feeling free. It is a colourful, enthusiastic and optimistic vision, with two key pillars, the technique and soul of the work, with which I also seek to refute stereotypes about Arab culture. It is fair and necessary for people to know that not everything is from one extreme or another, to give visibility to a free, demanding woman, owner of her own decisions and mistress of her own life “. The artist remembers how the protagonist of this work dressed trikini in the beach of Tangier in the 50s and 60s, and that did not respond more than to a normal circumstance. Breaking stereotypes, involutionism and vindicating the right of women to decide on their future, are the messages that move this series of digital illustrations. The work “Beautiful
African Woman”, has obtained different recognitions from the different international media and institutions, having obtained the New Talent Award of the Artists of the World International Festival of Cannes (2018), the Silver Award of the prestigious publishing house Graphis in New York (2018) or the Circle Foundation for the Arts Award in Lyon (2019), among other distinctions. On the other hand, Bakkali’s work also seeks to break with the clichés that still exist about digital art and that, as the artist recalled in her lecture at the Antonio López Arts College last March, “digital art it is still very suspicious and that has been an important handicap that I have had to deal with throughout my career”. However, and according to Bakkali, “digital tools are another means to build bridges, to express the concerns of the soul and to describe the world around us”.
THE ARTIST
Houda is a Spanish visual artist of Moroccan origin. She is an expert in digital communication and online marketing, with more than ten years of experience in the sector. Likewise, she worked in print and graphics publishing, one of her great passions. Her first visual work dates back to 2008, when he published the series “Africa sweet and pop”, a colourful, optimistic and full of hope tribute to her origins. Houda grew up in the Lavapiés neighbourhood, one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural communities in Madrid, a place that the artist always associate with her passion and motivation for art. Houda Bakkali has exhibited in Paris, Madrid, Cannes, Barcelona…, and her work, techniques and creative process have been recognised by different institutions such as the General Spanish Consulate in New York. Currently, she has her creative studio in Barcelona.
THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition “Women and Digital Art, Breaking stereotypes”, will host the work “Beautiful African Woman”, the most representative work of the artist, as well as her latest digital artistic projects:”Don Quixote Time” work presented last April in New York; “The three ages”, series awarded with the
Distinguished Artist by the International Magazine Art Ascent in Canada, 2019; and “The flowers of good luck”, one of the most symbolic works of Bakkali and part of his first graphic work.
WHERE: PARADOR DE TURISMO OF LORCA
Built on the site of Lorca Castle, this Parador de Turismo is one of the architectural gems of the city of Lorca, a unique city that boasts a rich legacy of Christian, Jewish and Muslim culture that today recall its streets thanks to the synagogue of the fifteenth century, the Almohad wall, the Islamic cistern, the citadel of the castle or its streets full of noble shields, medieval walls, Jewish quarters, orange groves and vineyards… A historic city presided by the Parador de Turismo. This modern building was inaugurated by Queen Sofia in 2012 and represented a commitment to comfort, luxury, well-being and the most avant-garde decoration.
THE ARTISTIC WEALTH OF PARADORES
Paradores Nacionales de Turismo has one of the most important art collections in Spain. From Gothic carvings from the 14th century, a relief in stone signed by Juan de Juni, oil paintings from the 16th century, Flemish tapestries made from Rubens illustrations or furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries of incalculable value are a part of this exclusive collection. Since the opening in 1928, this hotel chain has nourished the walls of its monumental buildings with the best art. In fact, in the world, no known hotel establishment has more than 9,000 pieces of art, with different styles and periods that further enrich the historic buildings that house them and whose architecture shapes the history of Spain. Paradores that were convents, castles or monasteries and that today hide the charm and legends of yesteryear or Paradores located in areas as unique as the Plaza del Obradoiro, the Doñana National Park or the Alhambra. The prestigious hotel chain has always opted for the involvement of new artistic talents to increase its essential artistic heritage, including historical Paradores such as Santiago de Compostela, where young artists from the Madrid School, now
already consecrated in the national panorama. To this great wealth, Paradores also adds its work in the process of restoration of artistic works. Thus, in 2017, more than 250 artworks were restored, including sixteenthcentury embroidery, three Gothic chants from the 15th century or paintings from the 17th to the 20th centuries, among many others. On this occasion, and with the unmistakable setting of the emblematic Parador de Lorca, the work of Houda Bakkali has been chosen, for the quality of the work, for its technical particularities and the aesthetic vision of the international artist, giving space to the artistic trends of the 21st century.
WHEN
From the 4 to the 31, May 2019 Opening: 4 of May, 7 PM
WHERE
Parador de Lorca. Castillo de Lorca s / n 30800, Lorca – Murcia – Phone: +34 968406047 – Email: lorca@parador.es MAP
CONTACT ARTIST
Houda Bakkali – Email: hi@hbakkali.es Web: www.hbakkali.es