Hassan Hajjaj

Moroccan photographer Hassan Hajjaj has won extensive praise for photographs that mesh stereotypical images of Arabs with icons and brands of contemporary fashion.

Born in 1961 in Larache, Morocco and living much of his life in London, Hajjaj often reflects on the relationship between the Orient and the Occident in passionate photographs that include elements of fashion, Moroccan street culture and consumer iconography. He often depicts women donning traditional Islamic attire augmented with explicitly Western fashion labels. In doing so, he emphasises the power of branding and leads the viewer to consider and challenge pre-conceived stereotypes.

Hajjaj is also a designer, having launched his own fashion label R.A.P. in the 1980s. He designed the ‘Andy Wahloo’ bar-restaurant in Paris, and has produced furniture from recycled North African artefacts. Hajjaj has showcased his work in group exhibitions in Belgium, London and Dubai, as well as held solo shows in Casablanca, Marrakesh, Mali, London and Dubai.