As part of the 3rd edition of Mai de la Photo, dedicated to the theme “Memory(ies)”, the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) presents Under Destruction, an exhibition by Ismail Alaoui Fdili in the Artist Room, from 2 May to 2 August 2026, curated by Farah Maakel, Head of Exhibitions at MACAAL.

The project explores the transformation of urban landscapes through demolition sites across different contexts, including Cambodia, France and Morocco. In Casablanca, the artist’s hometown, it focuses on the gradual disappearance of early 20th-century Art Deco buildings around the old medina, documenting their final moments alongside inhabitants and workers.

The works take the form of photographic frescoes printed on concrete and cement slabs, complemented by a series of cast concrete stools inspired by those used by residents to observe the demolition of their homes, as well as a black-and-white documentary film accompanied by the voice of a resident of the medina, anchoring the narrative in lived memory.

Produced in collaboration with local artisans, the installation reflects processes of transmission within a changing urban fabric. Through Under Destruction, Ismail Alaoui Fdili reflects on the disappearance of a familiar neighbourhood while highlighting the resilience of its inhabitants and workers.

Ismail Alaoui Fdili is a Franco-Moroccan artist and filmmaker. Born in Casablanca, he lives and works between Morocco and Paris.
Trained in object design at ISDAT Toulouse, then graduated from ENSAPC in Cergy, he continued his film studies at Kourtrajmé under Ladj Ly.
His multidisciplinary practice explores precarious labour, informal economies, and the symbolic value of work, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. He is notably the founder of the International University of Car Parking Attendants (UIGV), an artistic and speculative project that questions the visibility and recognition of marginalised professions.