Hierophany and sacredness: the art of Maïmouna Guerresi / Ierofania e sacralità: l’arte di Maïmouna Guerresi

M.K, Minbar Kadija, 2016, polyptych, ©Maïmouna GuerresI. Courtesy Mariane Ibrahim Gallery

 

By MANUELA ACCINNO May 23, 2024

In today's society dominated by an obsession with materialism and the satisfaction of imposed desires, the mystical world is often reduced to mere superstition, laden with baseless stereotypes. It is becoming increasingly evident that religious experience, in its many facets, must reclaim the will to understand all dimensions of human existence. Mysticism, as an instrument for understanding the divine, succeeds in the perfect aggregation of knowledge, perception and will. Ultimately the mystic, this very often idealized figure, is nothing more than a person who detaches himself from the anthropocentric view of himself in order to seek, in his historical present, peace and freedom in contact with the divine. 

However, in the art of Maïmouna Guerresi, an Italian-Senegalese multimedia artist, who works with photography, sculpture, video and installations, a different perspective manifests itself, in which the exploration and re-appropriation of European and African cultures come together in a unique way. Through Sufi Islamic spirituality, which is essential to her life and artistic work, Guerresi analyses contemporary life with a critical eye, narrating multiculturalism, connection to nature and femininity, challenging the conventions associated with Muslim women. In her work: "Aisha in Wonderland", the mystical dimension, represented through female figures, becomes a communication tool based on the idea of hierophany, i.e. the manifestation of the sacred in everyday life. The protagonists of these photographs move in a metaphysical space of suspension, which transcends the perceptible, perceptible datum to join with something else. With this work, the artist proposes a vision of religiosity far removed from the secularisation of modern Western civilisation, preferring instead to rely on ancient and primordial symbols. Using a hybrid visual language, Maïmouna Guerresi communicates the beauty of cultural diversity, while contemplating the many issues related to contemporary life in a multi-ethnic society. Islamic art and literature provide an inexhaustible source of inspiration for her work, with their mystical revelations, metaphors, insights, sacred verses and thaumaturgic powers.

Blue Trampoline, 2016, ©Maïmouna GuerresI. Courtesy Mariane Ibrahim Gallery

Through his work, the artist invites the public to explore the richness and complexity of the Islamic tradition, overcoming the commonplaces and simplifications that often characterise public debate. His sculptures and photographs are a bridge between different cultures and religions, offering an opportunity for reflection and dialogue between worlds that often seem distant and irreconcilable. At a time when prejudice and fear of the other seem to dominate intercultural relations, Maïmouna Guerresi's art becomes a reflection of the beauty and complexity of human diversity. Her works speak of a boundless spirituality that elevates the soul and nourishes the intellect, opening the mind to new perspectives and new forms of understanding. WM