Zainab Fasiki’s Feminist Artistic Practice: A Semiotic Study of the Exhibition Hshouma at Le Cube – Independent Art Room

Abstract

Moroccan feminist activist Zainab Fasiki has become a prominent contemporary artist.  After the publication and success of her graphic novel Hshouma, Fasiki has gained international popularity. Nevertheless, Fasiki 's artistic practice is seldom thoroughly explored and analyzed. This article attempts to conduct a deep-level analysis of her work utilizing a Moroccan repertoire of symbolism. To reach this aim, this paper provides a semiotic analysis of Hshouma, Fasiki’s first exhibition in Morocco. The analysis of the different components of the exhibition is undergirded by the artist’s own statements and comments. The article introduces the artist and deconstructs her approach. It also provides background information on the female nudes in Moroccan art history and defines the Moroccan concept ‘hshouma’. Then, it describes the artworks showcased in the exhibition prior to a thorough examination.