Mous Lamrabat

Mous Lamrabat, a Moroccan-Belgian self-taught photographer, discovered his passion for photography after completing his education as an interior architect. Lamrabat's artistic mission is to present Moroccan culture through a new and unconventional lens.

Biography of Mous Lamrabat

Mous Lamrabat was born in 1983 in Temsaman, a town in northern Morocco. His family relocated to Belgium when he was only two years old. He grew up in Sint-Niklaas, as one of nine children. His academic journey took him to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Ghent, where he pursued interior design and graduated in 2009.

When questioned about his transition from crafting spaces to crafting images, Lamrabat explained that photography's allure stemmed from the potential "to be creative every day." While Lamrabat's current work involves creating images rather than physical spaces, it would be inaccurate to suggest that he has completely abandoned the latter. Through his photography, he constructs worlds that blend elements from various cultures and histories, deeply rooted in personal and communal traditions, while also drawing from popular culture on a global scale.

The artist's professional portfolio boasts collaborations with esteemed publications such as Elle, Vogue Italia, Vogue Arabia, GQ Middle East, and Esquire. In 2019, he received a notable nomination in the British Journal of Photography's 'Ones to Watch' Talent Issue. 

Lambarat's art has been exhibited in various group exhibitions, including "We Are Handsome" presented by Handsome Productions at Les Rencontres D’Arles in France; "Woven Matters" at Unseen Amsterdam in the Netherlands; "A Glitch In The System, Deconstructing Stereotypes" at Photo Vogue Festival in Milan, Italy; "Moroccan Portraits" at 193 Gallery in Paris, France; "For Heaven’s Sake" as part of the Biennale of Jerusalem in collaboration with Artsimous, and many others. His selected works were also showcased at AKAA ART FAIR in Paris, France.

In 2020, his work was featured in the group exhibition "L'heure Bleue" at Gallery Sofie Van de Velde & PLUS-ONE Gallery in Antwerp, Belgium.

Mous Lambarat's art style

As a self-taught artist, Lamrabat reimagined fashion photography. Infused with irony, his work is a way for him to critique consumer society, skillfully intertwining opulent luxury and counterfeiting according to Moroccan cultural references. His models, often featuring masked faces and bodies, seamlessly integrate into the breathtaking backdrops of Morocco's natural vistas. His exquisite fine art photography frequently showcases subjects adorned in niqabs, abayas, and kaftan robes. 

Lamrabat is best known for his creations in an invented realm called "Mousganistan." In this imaginative domain, youth move clad in garments and accessories that blend symbols of Western capitalism—like McDonald's iconic golden arches and Nike's recognizable swoosh—with signifiers of Islamic and North African culture, such as henna patterns and the niqab veil.