Psychic Garden presents an insight into the world of incredibly talented 23 year old self trained Moroccan photographer & visual artist; Ismail Zaidy.
Ismail's work speaks for itself, conveying his homelands and family in a stunning perspective that captures a deep feeling of symbiosis between environments and people, via his unique style of abstract photography.
His photography displays an acute balance of delicacy and awe, with subjects often staged in a surrealist manner, sculpting the reality around him into breath taking moments through his lens, full of life and vibrant emotion.
Anyone who has been to Marrakesh understands what a special place it is, often transcendental in its beliefs and way of life, and Ismail's photography also contains an otherworldly feeling of escape into a world of wonder.
Having already been featured by the likes of Vogue, the young artist was kind enough to share his thoughts with us around his work and life...
Where are you from and where did your journey into art begin ? Have you been creating since a young age ?
I'm 23 years old born and raised in Marrakesh, Morocco. I received my baccalaureate in 2015 and went on to graduate with a BA in International Management in 2018 from Cadi Ayad in Marrakech. Started taking pictures during summer of 2017, to express my inner perspective, around a hub of other unique creatives.
My style is abstract and minimalist, photographs have been taken with a phone. My father is from Marrakesh, my mother from a small town called Oued Zem. My siblings feature in much of my work. Family is intrinsic to my creativity.
How long did it take you to develop your style ? and how much has your environment influenced the work you make ?
Photography is a family affair to me, and in 2018 I started a project named '3aila', family in English, with my younger brother Othmane. He's quite a creative person as well, together with my sister Fatimazahra. They both play a huge part in developing the ideas behind the pictures and we also support each other in developing different concepts for new stories.
I mainly use photography to express my inner point of view on some of the topics that I can't express through words. Most of the time I am a person who doesn't like to talk too much so the best medium that I have explored and found to express myself is through photography and imagery.
When I was a kid, I used to live in a modest area in Marrakech where I was watching the way the women would wear their fabrics, hike and djelaba out on the streets. These women are still a huge inspiration for me today, and when I initiate a project I always try to show this side of my culture through my work.
Starting in 2017, I was mainly capturing my surrounding environments in Morocco. Slowly I was getting comfortable as an artist and growing as a creative family, which I think led me to the minimal, abstract and poetic style of the pictures I capture today.
What artists have inspired your work the most ?
It's a very hard question because i take my inspiration from everything not only photographers, but in the sort of patterns and success stories I think that I'm influenced by Hassan Hajjaj.
What is your personal relationship with spirituality and how does that inform your creative practice ?
We live in a country where spirituality is a life style and an imprint in every detail of our lives, from waking up until going back to bed, we are surrounded by the spiritual thoughts, and for sure that had the biggest impact in my life even if i never noticed it.
What advice do you have about finding creative flow in your practice and being 'in the zone', any routines or things you do that help you ?
Just walking, Do not underestimate the power of walks and their benefits in order to create ideas and ranking your thoughts and catharsis.
How does nature and the natural elements inspire your work ?
You cant get inspiration from nature, you are nature. We are a reflection of the elements of life.
At such a young age, we're excited for what the future holds for Ismail.
We encourage you all to support his work and keep up to date with his projects by following his page @l4artiste
- PSYCHIC GARDEN