Hicham Benohoud's new photo book, inspired by his teaching years in Marrakech, features striking monochrome portraits of his students. Created from about 1,000 images taken between 1994 and 2002, these photographs challenge traditional representations by employing strong lighting and deeply staged settings. Originally motivated by frustration with the quality of fashion magazines, Benohoud utilizes the classroom as a creative studio, emphasizing collaboration with his students. This series not only highlights their identities but also transforms the classroom into a site of playful artistic exploration, juxtaposing education with creative expression.
I began reproducing images from fashion magazines daily. However, I wasn't satisfied with the quality of these images, which led me to create my own references.
The photographs in Benohoud's series are visually striking, deliberated staged and almost surreal in their execution.
The classroom takes on the same transformative potential of a photo studio where the infinite possibilities of a space can be conjured through prop and performance.
My students became more than subjects; they became collaborators in exploring the blurred lines between education, identity, and art through our sessions.
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