The second edition of Marrakech Art Fair took place from 30 September to 3 October in Palace Es Saadi. The fair presented forty-eight galleries mainly from Arab countries. Over 14,000 visitors crossed the doorway of the Es Saadi Palace
Murat Germen, Muta-morphosis n-¦3, 2010, 150x85cm, Le Caire, courtesy CAM Gallery
60% of purchases were reported to be devoted to photography atan average between 3,000 and 20,000 Euros. Indeed, this 2nd edition of Marrakech Art Fair has highlighted the collectors’ taste for photography and video. The cultural program and the fair itself have enabled to establish these two medium into the Moroccan artistic landscape, alongside the more traditional painting. Sculptures have also been very appreciated by collectors, as well drawing, having pride of place through the Es saadi prize for contemporary art.
Among the major sales was a charcoal drawing by Robert Longo sold right before the fair, Metro Pictures sold a photo by Olaf Breuning at about 15 000 Euros; the gallery Lelong has negotiated the sale of a sculpture by Jaume Plensa for 150 000 Euros, Le Violon Bleu gallery sold pieces by Farid Belkahia up to 40 000 Euros; FJ gallery sold a work by Younes Rahmoun at 38,000 Euros; El Marsa Gallery sold a bronze sculpture by Khaled Ben Slimane at 16 000 euros; the sculptures by Noha Al Sharif were sold at 15 800 Euros each by Arthr Gallery; pictures by Xavier Zimbardo were sold at the stand of the Benamou gallery at 8500 Euros each, and two pictures by Lalla Essaydi where sold at 7500 Euros each in the stand of Edwynn Houk Gallery which is about to sell a larger one at 18 000 Euros; Merkur gallery from Istanbul sold two paintings by Ercan Akin at 6000 Euros each, Matisse gallery sold photos by Amina Benbouchta at 5000 Euros each, JGM Gallery sold three drawings by Chourouk Hriech, between 1000 and 3000 Euros, the gallery 127 sold more than twenty photos, at about 1500 Euros each.
Among the personalities present on the opening evening and during the fair were Mr. Bensalem Himmich, Minister of Culture in Morocco, Mr. Jack Lang, former Minister of Culture in France, as well as Mr. Bruno Joubert, Ambassador of France in Morocco.
The next Biennale, for which a number of site specific works have been commissioned to be set in the beautiful ruins of the 16th century el Badi Palace, will be in January 2012.
