Summary

The author discovered a passion for street art through their daughter, leading them to seek out and appreciate such art during their travels, particularly in Asilah, Morocco.

Abstract

The author recounts their decision to stay in Asilah, Morocco, on the last night of a two-week trip, solely for the purpose of experiencing its renowned street art. Despite arriving after dark, they and their daughter, Stacey, were determined to capture photographs of the artwork, which they found to be a beautiful and special way to bid farewell to Morocco. The author marvels at the intricate details, the use of Arabic calligraphy, and the various themes depicted in the murals, including a striking piece featuring two women that seemed to carry a deeper message. The artwork's beauty is highlighted through descriptions of its delicate nature, the use of trompe l'oeil effects, and the incorporation of local patterns that resonated with the author, who continued to see similar designs in Andalusia. The author also references other travelers' experiences in Morocco, including Jillian Amatt, Robert Knight, and Alec Zarenkiewicz, each with their unique perspectives on the country.

Opinions

The author finds the street art in Asilah to be exceptionally beautiful and a memorable aspect of their trip to Morocco.
The artwork's ability to continue around the corner of a building is particularly admired.
Arabic calligraphy in the street art is described as pretty, even when used in tags.
The author sees a personal resemblance in one of the women depicted in a mural, suggesting a deeper, perhaps emotional, connection to the piece.
The author appreciates the trompe l'oeil effect in some of the murals, indicating a sophisticated level of artistry.
The intricate patterns observed in the street art of Asilah are compared to those seen throughout Morocco and later in Andalusia, reflecting a cultural continuity that impresses the author.
The author expresses a sense of wonder at the themes and elements within the murals, such as the depiction of men and women, hands and hearts, crescents and shells, birds and seahorses, and a fire, noting that the imperfect symmetry does not detract from the overall beauty.
The author enjoys the playful representation of a cat gazing longingly at birds in one of the murals, indicating an appreciation for the artists' attention to detail and storytelling through art.

MONTHLY CHALLENGE

I Became Interested in Street Art Through My Daughter

Now I look for it wherever I travel

Street art in Asilah, Morocco December, 2019 Photo by Stacey Mulcahy

I chose to stay in Asilah on our last night of our two week trip four wheel driving around Morocco. We could have stayed in Tangier as we had to return our rental car to Tangier Airport early the next morning. I was flying to Barcelona and Stacey was flying to Toulouse.

I chose Christina’s house in Asilah for one reason — Asilah’s street art. We weren’t disappointed. We arrived after dark but Stacey was determined to get some photographs. I must admit I thought they were beautiful and special — a farewell to Morocco.

Isn’t this one beautiful? I love the way it continues around the corner of the building.

I love the Arabic calligraphy — even the tags look pretty. And the two women? There’s a message here I’m sure but I don’t know what it is. The woman on the left bears a unsettling resemblance to myself.

I love the delicate nature of this one and the trompe l’oeil effect.

The closeup on the right might add some explanation to the artwork. There are men and women, hands and hearts, crescents and shells, birds and seahorses and a fire? It’s not perfectly symmetrical but oh, so beautiful.

Can you see that cat down in the corner looking longingly up at the birds in flight? I think he realises he has no chance of catching one. The birds are painted simply but look so graceful.

I love the intricacies of this pattern. We had seen patterns all over Morocco, and continued to see them when we arrived in Andalusia.

You can read about the rest of our Moroccan trip here.

Four-wheel Driving Around Morocco

Our two-week trip

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Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages was “locked up” in Morocco when Covid hit.

Celebrating the Strangest Ramadan In Morocco

Not your typical Ramadan!

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And here’s Robert Knight’s recent trip to Morocco. Robert and his family had a personal driver. What luxury!

Moroccan Surprises

The best and the less good of a two-week tour of Morocco

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And Alec Zarenkiewicz went to Asilah for completely different reasons.

Asilah

A Fortified Coastal Town

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