ARTS
PATH OF GLORY
Pops of colour, acres of swag, endless imagination: Hassan Hajjaj’s The Path is now on show, with some of the most vibrant images we’ve ever seen on the cool walls of Arnolfini
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arlier this year, we ran an enthusiastic little piece on an exhibition Arnolfini had scheduled for April. Covid struck, and the show prompty went on the back burner. Now, though, with the gallery reopened, Hassan Hajjaj’s The Path has finally landed – and it’s themes of of portraiture, family and friends, its exploration of culture and identity in the global world could hardly be more pertinent. Hassan’s style is instantly recognisable. Lots of colour, lots of swag, huge imagination, all set in a pulsating cultural mélange. A photographer, designer and filmmaker, Hassan moved from Morocco to Britain at the age of 12; entirely self-taught, his eclectic influences mix the UK’s hip-hop and reggae scenes with his North African heritage. He works in portraiture, installation, performance, fashion and furniture design, but he’s best known for his ornate, eye-popping photography. His latest exhibition takes its name from his personal
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“Signs, symbols and people of different cultures collide without any presumed superiority of a Eurocentric worldview” journey from Morocco to the UK, and offers a unique and timely consideration of identity in the modern, globalised world. Signs, symbols and people of different cultures collide in the exhibition without hierarchy, or any presumed superiority of a Eurocentric worldview. Spanning both countries, the images reflect the perspective of a natural-born cosmopolitan, who delights at teasing out the connections and contradictions he’s discovered during his travels. In exuberant, brightly coloured photos, Arabic models wear djellabas; but with a knowing wink at Western Pop Art, they’re framed with imported cans of Coca-Cola, Sprite and tomato soup. Little
