“Wonderful, well-presented, thought provoking and deeply human all at once – made with love !” (Trip Advisor)
Curatorial position
I am curious to explore the crossroads of visual arts, language and social sciences. Having always been intrigued by objects left behind, I like to collect them, listen to the stories they have to tell and try to reassemble them for a next round of life. I appreciate the idea of curating in the literal sense of taking care. As a curator, I don’t want to drown out the objects, but provide them with a space to talk – and offer a dictionary to those visitors who want one. Contact me here.
Competencies
I have an academic and research background in linguistics, cultural studies, ethnology, digital humanities, and curatorial studies. My work is driven by a strong interest in Amazigh, Tuareg and Hassaniya communities, and the tangible and intangible cultural heritage bridging both shores of the Sahara. I have been involved in curating exhibitions in and around the Sahara, in Morocco and Mauritania.
Impressions
Curation projects
| Musée Tiskiwin | Université Cadi Ayyad | 2022 – 2023 | Marrakesh |
| Henna veils | Grassi-Museum | 2023 | Leipzig |
| Marrakesh Timbuktu | Saharan Heritage Collection B. Flint | 2023 – 2025 | Marrakesh |
| Musée du Sahara | Fondation Nationale des Musées | 2025 | Dakhla |
| La Maison Mernissi | Private | 2025 | Fès |
| Musée de la Mine | SNIM Mauritanie | 2026 – ongoing | Zouérate |
| Ecomusée de l’oasis d’Icht | Association du village | 2026 – ongoing | Icht |
| Causeries ferroviaires | Série de conférences, Mauritanides | 2026 | Mauritania |
References
Lonely Planet about Marrakesh-Timbuktu : “at this beautifully laid-out exhibition space… visitors can delve into the history of the art and culture found along the arteries across the Sahel (northwest Africa).”
Trip Advisor : “Cultural, historical, and deeply human all at once” — “Great museum! Made with love! Lots of interesting information!” — “Absolutely gorgeous! A very interesting collection, beautifully displayed with lots of information” — “amazing insights in Amazigh and Tuareg culture” — “The museum is wonderful, beautiful, well-presented, and thought provoking. Definitely worth the visit!” — “the descriptions are very interesting and easy to follow” — “I recommend without hesitation … for the quality of the exhibition“
Stanley Wibbons at Google Reviews : “The organization and explanations are clear and concise! It is this last point that makes the visit so enjoyable; I felt as though I were being guided through the various rooms, as if transported to the villages and cities of Morocco and beyond…”
Google Reviews : “Une très belle exposition qui répondra a beaucoup de questions que l’on peut se poser en voyant les merveilles des souks” — “Très beau musée qui permet de découvrir une large culture africaine. C’est une expérience qui fait appel à l’humilité. Une posture équivalente à celle d’un anthropologue !”— “Musée peu reconnu mais qui vaut franchement le détour, explications bien détaillées et précises” — “The neat and clean explanation of every piece, the way those things are put together to appeal not to foreign visitors but as a genuine reflection of what once was and still is a Saharan culture and heritage” — “Highly recommended for non folkloric visits but genuine exploration that comes with treatment that meets what people seek” — “It genuinely hooked me as a local who, truly, got overwhelmed with a part of his culture he never got to see as greatly displayed.” —”The best museum / exhibition we have seen in Morocco” — ” Bravo aux créateurs de ce musée ! Une visite s’impose !” — “Absolutely fascinating museum” — “Ce voyage était inattendu et… j’ai été profondément émue…. J’y ai acquis une compréhension profonde de la culture berbère” — “Spécial, unique et instructif, ce lieu exceptionnel… met parfaitement en valeur cette collection magnifique et raffinée.” — “expérience culturelle inoubliable… un voyage fascinant à travers le patrimoine marocain et saharien… découverte des objets amazighs et sahariens et l’enrichissement de nos connaissances sur les liens culturels en Afrique du Nord et de l’Ouest. L’exposition, à la fois intimiste et magnifiquement présentée.” — “Fantastic experience” — “Amazing place… My partner and I went to multiple museums in Marrakesh but this was by far my favourite. It was well laid out, very informative and the collection was fantastic to see” — “Un museo eccezionale, diverso da tanti altri in citta” — “great attention, creating a thoughtful and intimate atmosphere. Every detail reflects genuine passion and dedication” — “une expérience incroyable, j’ai appris énormément de choses sur les cultures africaines” — “Amazing place” — “un lieu fascinant, riche en histoire, avec une scénographie soignée qui rend la visite très agréable” — “So fascinating with great information and artifacts taking you through the trade routes of the Western Sahara” — “Nice museum! Well organized and a lot of knowledge!” — “Magnifique musée sur l’art Afro-berbère et Sahraoui!” — “I had a delightful time and learned plenty about the culture shared between Morocco, the Sahara, and West Africa” — “Un trésor au cœur de la médina” — “magnifiquement présentés … Les explications sont claires et vous transportent brièvement dans un autre monde” — “My favourite museum in Marrakech!!” — “Very good exhibition” — “Conçue dans un but pédagogique, l’exposition offre suffisamment d’explications pour que le visiteur puisse pleinement l’apprécier, et propose également quelques énigmes surprenantes qui invitent à l’observation et à la réflexion” — “the objects are shown to their best advantage“
Sawsan Curation 