Provocative photographer Mous Lamrabat subverts North African stereotypes
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Sought-after photographer Mous Lamrabat is a master of hybridity, expertly splicing together symbols from his Moroccan heritage and Muslim faith with Western brands and pop culture in his bright and joyful portraits. The positivity his work exudes makes it not only irresistible, but slyly thought-provoking too. "Emotion penetrates the soul, so I find that humor and fun are the best tools to use," he said on the phone from Belgium, where hes based. "I cant change peoples prejudices; I can only show them that there is so much more to us than they might think. "Lamrabat was born in an Amazigh village in the north of Morocco and grew up in the Flemish city of Sint-Niklaas in Belgium. One of nine children, he recalls feeling different from his schoolmates. "Everyone had designer sneakers and I had the cheapest running shoes, but I used to tell them, Im so smart, I can run much faster because theyre so light. Creativity really started for me as a way to deal with being different. "Lamrabat studied interior design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium, before turning to photography. While he initially struggled to find his voice, his vision began to crystalize during a trip back to Morocco three years ago. "After not working and rediscovering Morocco, it was right there, standing in front of me like a big-ass elephant," he recalls. Existing and creating between many worlds -- Moroccan, Berber, African, European, Muslim -- led Lamrabat to create his own "Mousganistan" -- a colorful universe where the North African diaspora finally feel at home. Here, McDonalds golden arches become henna and Mexican wrestling masks accessorize caftans. "For those living between cultures, you feel like you have to choose and sometimes you feel like a sell-out," he said. "Thats why I started this Mousganistan thing, because we dont have to choose. And if you have both, and can navigate between them, then that makes you unique. "A recurring motif in
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