Maïmouna Guerresi is an Italian multimedia artist working with photography, sculpture, video, and installation. Born in Italy to a religious Catholic family, she converted to Islam with strong Sufi-orientation in 1991. Her work presents an intimate perspective on the spirituality of human beings and their relationship to their inner mystical dimension. Guerresi's images are delicate narratives with fluid sequencing, and an appreciation of shared humanity beyond borders – psychological, cultural, religious and political. Recurrent metaphors such as milk, light, the hijab, trees, and contrasting white and black create awareness of the vital unifying qualities of Islamic spirituality, while Guerresi's work's embrace of hybrid spirituality and African, Asian, and European cultural ancestry ultimately reflects that of her global approach to both art and life. Guerresi lives and works in Verona, Milan, Italy, New York City and Dakar, Senegal. As of February 2016, she lives in Dakar, Senegal.
Works
Her work has been extensively exhibited in solo and group shows all over Europe, Africa, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. Guerresi was invited to participate in the Italian pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1982-1986-2011 as well as at the 1987 Documenta K18 in Kassel, Germany. Her most recent museum shows include Islamic Art Now, Part II: Contemporary Art from the Middle East, Lacma Museum, Los Angeles, 2016; Re-signification, Museo Bardini, Florence, 2015; National Museum of Sharjah, UAE, 2014; National Museum of Bahrain, UAE, 2014; Biennale Chobi Mela, Dhakka, Bangladesh, 2013; F.A.R Museum in Rimini, Italy, 2013; Camhane Art Center, collateral exhibition for the Istanbul Biennal Turkey, 2013; Pole de la Photographie, France; Cultural Institute of Islam, Paris, France, 2013; National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India 2012; KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki, Finland, 2011; French Institute, Fez, Morocco, 2011; Fondation Boghossian, Villa Empain, Brussels, 2011; Central Electrique, Brussels, 2010; Biennal “Les Rencontres de Bamako” the National Museum of Bamako, Mali, 2009; Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, USA, 2004.
