Être et ne pas avoir (2014)

Être et ne pas avoir is a video in which a Belgian resident explains the different strategies of access linked to the local social welfare system. This work refers to the flaws of a social system and the money it can generate, as well as the phenomenon of a new form of immigration familiarly called “social tourism”. The title of this project refers to how these individuals advertise themselves as people in need.

Younes Baba-Ali makes art that is unconventional, intelligent and critical, mostly in public space or places uncommon to art practice. He is a sharp observer and raises pertinent questions aimed at society, the institution and above all, his audience. As a free thinker he holds a mirror up to society and confronts it with its ingrained habits and dysfunctions. Baba-Ali’s work often assumes the form of the readymade, but underneath its facade of simplicity there is a complex exercise in balance at work. As an artist-alchemist he measures and mixes technology, objects, sound, video and photography with political, social and ecological issues. The resulting installations discreetly coerce the unsuspecting viewer into taking a stand. Baba-Ali shuns no controversy and often finds himself negotiating his art and its rationale with his environment. His works are context-specific and take their final form in dialogue with its spectators. This at times disruptive intervention art confronts the viewer in an ironical way with himself and his environment. Baba-Ali presents people dilemmas and taboos and challenges them to (re)act. In this way he makes them his accomplices in acts of artistic guerrilla that unite the establishment and the common man.

Born in 1986 in Oujda (MA), Younes Baba-Ali lives and works in Brussels (BE) & Casablanca (MA). Graduating from l’Ecole Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg in 2008, and from l’Ecole Supérieure d’Art d’Aix-en-Provence in 2011, he was rewarded by the prize “Léopold Sédar Senghor”, during the African Contemporary Art Biennial of Dakar (SN) in 2012 and the prize “Boghossian”, during the Belgian Art Prize “Art’Contest” in Brussels (BE) in 2014. He has participated in several international exhibitions and biennials among them Digital Africa: The Future is Now, Southbank Centre, London (UK); Strange Paradoxe, MuCEM, Marseille (FR); Nass Belgica, Botanique, Brussel (BE); Where are we now?, 5de Marrakech Bienniale, Marrakech (MA); L’MAR9A, Voice Gallery, Marrakech (MA); Travail, mode d’emploi, Centrale voor Hedendaagse Kunst, Brussel (BE); Transaction Complete, FaMa Gallery, Verona (It); Dak’Art, 10de Afrikaanse Hedendaagse Kunst Biënnale van Dakar (SN); Regionale 12, Haus für elektronische Künste, Basel (CH); Taverna Especial, Sketch Gallery, London (UK); Brick & Mortar International Video Art Festival, Greenfield (USA); Loop” Video Art Festival, Barcelona (ES); No Signal Found, Arte Contemporanea Gallery, Brussel (BE); Flowers, Animals, Urbans, Machines, Appartement 22, Rabat (MA) and Desencuentros, Sabrina Amrani Art Gallery, Madrid (ES).