Hassan Hajjaj: Venice, 1447

The exhibition takes its name from the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. The year 1447 corresponds to the current year in the Hijri calendar, which follows lunar cycles and begins in 622 CE with the Hijra – the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. This dual temporal framework is central to Hajjaj’s practice: each of his works is dated according to both the Hijri and Gregorian calendars, reflecting the artist’s navigation between cultural contexts and temporalities.

The exhibition brings together a selection of the artist’s most iconic works. His subjects depict everyday scenes, merging traditional Moroccan elements with contemporary streetwear influences. Through these compositions, Hajjaj constructs a visual language that is at once celebratory and subversive, challenging stereotypical representations while embracing popular culture and artisanal practices.

The exhibition can be understood as a reflection on the complexities of postcolonial identity and cultural fluidity, offering a nuanced exploration of the tensions and possibilities inherent in multiculturalism.