Tangier’s Urban Contrasts Through the Lens

Capturing through photography the many facets of Tangier while raising awareness of its urban disparities lies at the heart of the visual work of photographer Rachid Ouettassi, whose exhibition is on display at Dar D’Art Gallery in Tangier until July 10.
The collection, balancing documentary observation with an author’s personal vision, offers viewers a testimony spanning more than three decades of a city in constant transformation.
Entitled «Tangier, a Tragic Love Story,» the exhibition features nearly thirty black-and-white photographs highlighting the diversity and ever-changing nature of Tangier.
«Through this work, I am not trying to define Tangier, but rather to reveal some of its fragments. These moments of everyday life, once brought together, tell the story of the city’s richness and complexity,» Rachid Ouettassi explained.
«Each photograph is an encounter with a place, a scene or a person. In the end, what emerges is not a complete portrait of the city on the Strait, but an invitation to look at it differently,» the artist added.
The exhibited works also portray the life and atmosphere of the city’s narrow streets, beaches and port.
«These places are an integral part of Tangier’s life. The alleyways, beaches and harbor are not merely settings—they are spaces where people live, work, meet, wait and dream,» the photographer said.

«That is precisely the life I wanted to capture.»

The exhibition also draws attention to the gradual transformation of Tangier’s urban landscape over recent years.
«I photographed Tangier over many years,» Ouettassi emphasized.
«Looking at these images today, it is clear that the city has changed. Some places have disappeared, others have evolved, yet life itself goes on.»
For this body of work, the artist chose analog photography and traditional darkroom printing—techniques that have remained central to his practice since his earliest photographs.
«Film photography allows you to take your time. Every image matters, every shutter release is a deliberate choice,» explained the Tangier-based street photographer.
«It is a technique that requires patience, precision and genuine craftsmanship, from shooting to printing. Today, that culture is becoming increasingly rare.».

K.A.