Kafila
M'hammed Kilito
Bearing witness to a world on the verge of transformation, M’hammed Kilito is particularly interested in efforts to preserve desert oases, to improve them and to develop them in a lasting way, seeking to depict the histories of their communities as agents and decision-makers in such changes. The photo project Kafila – “caravan” in Arabic – is a long-term project that is still ongoing. It sheds light on complex and multifaceted questions related to the degradation of oases and the impact of this phenomenon on local traditions and the livelihoods of populations in the regions of the Mashriq of western Asia and the Maghreb of North Africa. As ecological pillars against desertification and a critical marker of the health of the climate, oases are a refuge for biodiversity. They constitute a unique ecosystem based on an equilibrium of three elements: availability of water, soil quality and date palms.
Kilito is a silent observer, taking precise photographs of the sites he visits and the unique societies he encounters, which have many distinctive features, rich heritage and abundant resources, but also face some glaring realities, such as recurring droughts, overexploitation of natural resources and rural depopulation. Working on a temporal axis that encompasses the past, present and future of oasis towns, Kilito captures a material and immaterial heritage that is undergoing transformation. Frequently referring to the history of photography and painting, he often puts his subjects at the centre of his compositions, a formal solution by which he is able to provoke reflection on the underlying reasons for the social, cultural and economic changes now taking place. He also questions aspirations for the future that tend to take the form of architectural megaprojects.
Year of production: 2020-2023
In collaboration with: Gowen Contemporary
