Bio_
Amine Asselman (1989, Tetouan, Morocco). Artist and PhD in Contemporary Art.
From a very young age I was interested in physics and mathematics, that is why in 2007 I enrolled at the Rabat School of Architecture. After two years of studying, I discovered that my true passion is art and design, which led me to leave the academy and move to Tetouan to study Design at the National Institute of Fine Arts.
After graduating in 2013, I continued my studies by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Art at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Pontevedra at the University of Vigo. It is there where I discovered the work of authors such as M.C Escher, Antoni Gaudí or Sol Lewitt, who strongly influenced my artistic vision, finding that point in common between my two passions: science and art.
It’s the geometry, that art so present in my native culture, which pushed me to continue, from 2015 to 2019 at the same University, developing my research work on Zellige and Contemporary Creation between Spain and Morocco.
During these years of training I developed my artistic career by participating in national and international exhibitions, winning different awards and grants.
I currently live in Tetouan, where I set up my Ceramic Art and Zellige production workshop.
Statement_
My interest in the Zellige and geometry is reflected in most of my works where design, art, and crafts intermingle to express concerns closely linked to the complexity of the islamic identity and Mediterranean culture.
During my PhD research on Zellige and contemporary creation I have developed a method to generate an infinite number of geometric figures based on the same frequency. I apply all this geometric game to Zellige to transform spaces and architectural elements. I also developed a geometrical language called MUSAIC to translate the musical notes, scales and scores into Zellige compositions.
I work with the Tetouan Zellige technique, which is a unique artisan technique in Morocco and which is classified by UNESCO as a technique threatened by its disappearance. One of the objectives of my work is to preserve and evolve this technique, thus avoiding its disappearance. I have also managed to rescue old enamel formulas based on minerals and oxides to generate a palette of unique colors and textures with great depth and shine.
CV_
ACADEMIC EDUCATION
2015 – 2019: PhD (Cum Laude) in Contemporary Art, Faculty of Fine Arts of Pontevedra, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2014 – 2015: Master of Contemporary Art. Creation and Research, Faculty of Fine Arts of Pontevedra, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
2009 – 2013: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Design Section, National Institute of Fine Arts, Tetouan, Morocco.
2007 – 2009: Architectural Studies, Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Métiers d’Architecture, Rabat, Morocco.
EXHIBITIONS
2025
– Destinations by Bottega Veneta, NOMAD, Abu Dhabi, UAE
– GAP OF POSSIBILITIES, MCC Gallery, Marrakech, Morocco
– MCC Gallery, Africa Basel, Basel, Switzerland
– CDA Gallery, DADA, 1-54 Art Fair, Marrakech, Morocco
– Ligne(s) du Désir, IZZA, 1-54 Art Fair, Marrakech, Morocco
– Adaptability, SAMoCA, Ryadh, Saudi Arabia
2024
– Arab Design Now, Doha Design Biennial, M7, Doha, Qatar
– Alwane, Galerie H by Holmarcom, Casablanca, Morocco
– Crafting Design Futures, Museum of Islamic Art,Doha, Qatar
2023
– Du Zellige à l’infini, Espace Rivages, Fondation Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
– Maison de l’Artisan, Salone del Mobile, Milan, Italy
– Art & Craft Aujourd’hui, Bratislava Design Week, Bratislava, Slovakia
2022
– Sons Improbabeis, Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– STEREOTRIP Maroc, Stereolux, Nantes, France
2021
– Novos Valores 2019/20, Culturgal, Pontevedra, Spain
– Une scène artistique actuelle, Musée Mohammed VI d’Art Contemporain, Rabat, Morocco
– Amalgama Gráfica Contemporánea III, La Maldita Estampa, Barcelona, Spain
2020
– De Maîtres à Disciples,Prestigia Gallery, Casablanca, Morocco
2019
– Vínculos abiertos. Cuatro artistas hispano-marroquíes, Casa Árabe Madrid, Spain
– Young Moroccan Artists, KFW Deg Bank, Cologne, Germany
– Novos Valores, Pontevedra Museum, Pontevedra, Spain
– Undécimo premio Artistas Novos, Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2018
– Global Complexity, Zona «C», Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– SAIDA Art Contemporain Gallery, SCULTO Feria de Escultura, Logroño-La Rioja, Spain
– Identitas(Lab), Art Mustang Gallery, Elche, Alicante, Spain
2017
– Décimo premio Artista Novos, Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– SAIDA Art Contemporain Gallery, International Print Biennale Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia
– Fabrica de Identidades, Museo de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain
– Bajo el efecto borde, Sant Andreu Contemporani, Barcelona, Spain
2016
– 40 dias en la frontera, The Waiting Room, Pontevedra, Spain
– Con/Sin Visado, Cuarto Publico, NH Collection Hotel, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– SAIDA Art Contemporain Gallery, Estampa 2016, Matadero Madrid, Spain
– MULAFEST 2016, IFEMA Madrid, Spain
– UFOFABRIK Gallery, Contemporary Art Ruhr, Essen, Germany
– Noveno premio Artista Novos, Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2015
– ESO SIGUE SU CURSO, Sala X and Fundación RAC, Pontevedra, Spain
– Camino a la Medina, Revela-T 2015, Barcelona, Spain
– Sin Fronteras, Alliance Française of Madrid, PHOTOESPAÑA 2015, Madrid, Spain
RECIDENCIES
2024
– Crafting Design Futures, Years of Culture Morocco-Qatar,Doha, Qatar
2022
– LAB Digital Maroc, Stereolux, Nantes, France
2021
– Jardin Rouge, Montresso Art Foundation, Marrakech, Morocco
2013
– III Encontro de Artistas Novos, Ciudad de la Cultura, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
PRIZES, GRANTS & CONTESTS
2024
– Finalist at Design Doha Prize «Crafts category» with SANIA project, Doha, Qatar
2021
– Selected for the Lab Digital Maroc, Institut Français du Maroc, Morocco
2019
– Winner of the Novos Valores Prize, Pontevedra Museum, Spain
– Selected for the Eleventh Prize Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2017
– Selected for the Tenth Prize Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– Selected for «Zona C» with the project «Global Complexity», Consello de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– Selected for IDENTITAS(LAB), Mustang Art Gallery, Elche, Alicante, Spain
2016
– Selected for the Emerging Art BURN, MULAFEST 2016, IFEMA, Madrid
– Winner of the «Concello de Santiago Prize» with the project «Con/Sin Visado», Contemporary Art Fair Cuarto Publico, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
– Selected for the Ninth Prize Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2015
– Finalist at the photography contest «Sin Fronteras» of the Alliance Française of Madrid, Spain
OTHER PROJECTS
– Participation in the research program «Art & Crafts Aujourd’hui» in partnership with the higher schools of art and design of Bratislava (Slovakia), Brussels (Belgium), Montreal (Quebec), Porto (Portugal), Tétouan (Morocco) and Saint-Étienne (France) which benefits from the support of the European Union. 2019-2024
– Design mentor of the Summer School on the Art of Zellige, Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftmanship «Homofaber» in partnership with the National Institute of Fine Arts and the School of Arts and Crafts of Tétouan
ACQUISITIONS
– Musée Mohamed VI d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Rabat, Morocco
– Museo de Pontevedra, Spain
– Montresso Art Foundation, Marrakech, Morocco
– Ministère de la Culture, Rabat, Morocco
– Four Season Resort Marrakech, Morocco
– St Régis La Bahia Blanca, Morocco
– Qatar Museums, Qatar
– Tanger Med, Morocco
Amine Asselman 