Mohcine Harisse: The Artist who shows the soul of Rural Moroccan music
Mohcine Harrise, born in Casablanca, always dreamed of becoming an artist. As a child, he would draw sneakers; later, he became a fashion blogger, stepping in front of the camera as a model until eventually stepping behind it as a photographer.
He grew up in one of Casablanca’s most iconic neighborhoods: Derb Sultan.
When asked if it was easy to do what he does today, coming from that part of the city, he says:
“People used to tell me, ‘This isn’t your place. You should go to Europe or America.’ But every time I looked at my neighborhood and the people I grew up with, I felt: this is my place. This is where I belong.
Back then, I didn’t see how hard it was. I was just doing what I loved. Now, looking back, I realize it wasn’t easy at all. But that’s exactly what makes every moment, good or bad, feel so meaningful today.”
A recurring theme in his work is the musical traditions of rural Morocco. He’s fascinated by these performances and feels it’s important for younger generations to witness and understand the stories behind them