Yoriyas: Casablanca, Not the Movie

Casablanca, Not the Movie is a long-term project, that started in 2014. It is both a love letter to the city I call home and an effort to authentically represent Morocco’s famous city for those whose perception of it is limited to guide-book snapshots, film depictions, or Orientalist fantasies. The title of the project references the classic 1942 movie, Casablanca, which was never filmed in the city, but rather in a Hollywood studio. It approaches the human in a complex and contrasting environment: Diverse cultures and ethnicities, traditions, religions, urban development, and post-colonial influences all seem in opposition to one another. Limited prospects force people to interact creatively in their urban environment, but also create challenges for photographers who seek to document the city. This series is an insider’s glimpse into the vibrant reality of Morocco’s biggest city from the perspective of a Moroccan, who was born, grew up, and still lives there.

Yoriyas Yassine Alaoui Ismaili is a Casablanca-based photographer and performance artist. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Nat-GEO, and Vogue. Awards include the Award Les Amis de l’Institut du Monde Arabe for Contemporary Arab Creation and the 7th Contemporary African Photography Prize. Yoriyas started playing chess when he was five years old, which triggered an interest in mathematics. Hip-hop culture, too, has been a great influence, as by the age of 16 Yoriyas was a practised Breakdancer. In 2013, a serious knee injury halted his pursuit of a career in professional dance, and Yoriyas began experimenting with photography as a means of self-expression. He has since exhibited internationally, participating with HERMÈS Foundation Paris, and 1-54 African Art-Fair Marrakech. @ yoriyas

Images: From the series, Casablanca, Not the Movie (2014 - Present)