The UCLA Ford Center for Art of Performance will introduce Hassan Hajjaj’s musical art, My Rockstars, installation on October 11, 2019. Hajjaj will perform his projected installation of the famous My Rockstars Experimental series live on stage for the first time, in front of a backdrop of textiles that recreates the unique framing of his portraits. Hajjaj is considered the “Andy Warhol of Morocco.” His photographs and other works have appeared in museum collections throughout the United States, the British Museum, in Paris, in Dubai, London, and in Marrakech. He also styles and photographs of A-list celebrities worldwide.
The 8pm one-show only performance will feature the London group Afrikan Boy, acoustic jazz-folk artist Burmi, Simo Lagnwai a Moroccan Gnawa artist who works with spiritual trance drums; songwriter, violinist and producer Marques Toliver from Daytona Beach; Gail Ann Dorsey, who played bass with David Bowie for 20 years; and Syrian American spoken word artist Omar Offendum.
According to the New York Times, “Hajjaj’s images belong to a history of studio photography that stretches from the medium’s beginnings to the present while building on the works of sub-Saharan photographers like Malick Sidibé. They riff on Matisse’s odalisques, Jeff Koons’s basketball ads and fashion photography as well, all filtered through the lens of a different, indisputably contemporary culture.”
Hajjaj has won several awards including the 2011 Sovereign Middle East and African Art Prize. In 2013, Rose Issa Projects published a monograph of his life between Morocco and London and the influences that resulted in his colorful fashion, interior design, and photographs. His work is characterized as vibrant and joyful. The Kesh Angels, showcasing the “henna girls of Marrakesh” is considered his most iconic series.
For The RockStars Experimental Live, Hajjaj styled six artists, who will present his collection in a live on-stage performance. All the fabrics for the outfits are handmade by Moroccan artisans and the textiles are sourced in the local souks.
Attendees are advised to arrive an hour prior to the performance. From 7-8 pm, the Ford Theater Community Room will display the Hajjaj Rockstar Collection. The exhibit is organized by the Laboratory Arts Collective. The event is part of IGNITE @ the FORD! The series comprised shares the works of world-renowned thought-provoking contemporary artists. Event Proceeds from IGNITE @ the FORD! will go to the Ford Theatre Foundation.