12 february 2025, Martine Bontjes
The studio of… Rachid Ben Ali
The Moroccan-Dutch artist Rachid Ben Ali does not work from one fixed location. He travels extensively and wherever he stays, he has a studio to work. He often works on multiple projects simultaneously, adding something new each time: "Interesting things often arise gradually, step by step." For his participation in the group exhibition at Lumen Travo Gallery, the first exhibition of 2025, Ben Ali was asked to respond to the central question of the show: "Which foot should we start with?"
The tragedy and empathy Ben Ali feels for global issues provided the breeding ground for his new series of works. At the back of the gallery space at Lumen Travo, we see how he reflects on the ways in which political leaders hold on to power. At the same time, Ben Ali shows us how he and his friends, despite the injustices in the world, are determined to preserve their freedoms and not be oppressed. His new work presents a powerful and personal vision of the dynamics of power, freedom, and hope in a time of increasing political tension.
The exhibition ‘Groups how’ is on view until 15 February at Lumen Travo Gallery in Amsterdam.
Where is your studio and how do you begin a new work?
I have studios in Amsterdam, Paris, and New York, and I’m often working on several projects simultaneously. Sometimes these come together to form one ‘gesamtkunstwerk’. Every concept I develop, connects with my worldview and personal vision. Concepts and ideas sometimes emerge from a dream. I start working on them before they are fully developed, and in the studio, I either add details or remove them. I like to work with my hands, sometimes using both hands simultaneously.
What does a typical day in your studio look like? Do you have certain routines?
I start my day early, always alert, absorbing information, reading a lot, observing my surroundings, traveling, and reflecting. I spend a lot of time in Amsterdam, but right now I’m in Paris, and soon I’ll be going to New York. Each city offers new perspectives and influences that I bring into my work. As an artist, it is essential for me to constantly be in motion, to keep discovering, and to gather new ideas. Traveling is therefore a vital part of my life. In my new documentary ‘The Caravan’, I explore that journey and what it means for me to explore the world. Sometimes I return to places that are dear to me and evoke good memories.
Your new group exhibition at Lumen Travo Gallery asks the question ‘Which foot should we start with?’. What is your answer to that?
Follow the path that moves you and reflects your inner desires and passions; be brave enough to take a leap into the unknown.
In what way do you express significant events in your art?
Contradictions in our contemporary culture are an important theme in my work. Sometimes, events are so impactful and defining that I try to process them directly through my art. For me, art is a way to understand the world around me and to reflect on what is happening. It’s not so much about the fact that figures like Kim Jong-un are physically in Amsterdam, but more about how humans relate to such figures and the impact they have. Through my work, I try to capture moments when time seems to stand still—moments that feel both temporary and defining, sometimes even fatalistic.
You’ve been working from Berlin over the past few months, which is reflected in a German title as well. How do you choose your titles?
I often use English so my words can be understood internationally. Sometimes I use German, like in one of the paintings at Lumen Travo Gallery that features German friends. I occasionally incorporate Arabic or Hebrew as well, but English remains the primary language.
In your new works, I see the names Carlo and Karim. Who are they? Are these fictional characters or do they exist in real life?
Carlo and Karim are friends of mine; they dress more androgynously and wear dresses. That is all possible in today’s world, especially in free cities like Amsterdam and Berlin.
What do you hope the audience will take away from your work in the broader context of the group show? Do you want to prompt reflection on the start of the new year?
Making art is a continuous reflection, but viewers are also challenged to reflect. What you see or experience in art often says as much about yourself as it does about the work itself.
You’ve just returned from Berlin. Do you have plans for new projects?
I’m currently in Paris in the 6th arrondissement, but I’ll be back in Amsterdam soon to work on my new solo exhibition.
