Marie-Stella-Maris & Mous Lamrabat
Connecting through images: Mous Lamrabat and water in KenyaMarch 22nd is World Water Day. A special day to raise awareness about access to clean drinking water worldwide. For us, it's an important day to reflect on our social mission. To raise awareness, we're joining forces with Belgian-Moroccan art photographer Mous Lamrabat. Together, we traveled to Kenya to visit one of the water projects and create a unique series of images. One of these special photos is available as an art poster in a limited edition of 100, starting on World Water Day. All profits from these sales will go to the Marie-Stella-Maris Foundation to help even more people access clean drinking water!
We spoke with Lamrabat about his work and visit to the water project in Kenya.
What motivated you to collaborate on this project with Marie-Stella-Maris?
"When projects come my way where I can clearly see it's truly something 'for the people,' I can never say no. What Marie-Stella-Maris brought is a project many brands can learn from. You're addressing a basic need for people who don't have it. And on top of that, they communicate about it in a unique way. I believe you should always give back. That's how being successful in life works. When the universe gives you a lot, never forget to give back."
Photo right: When The Moon Sets
What was the concept behind your artistic selection for Marie-Stella-Maris?
"When we started this, I wanted to check off three things: the connection with water, an ode to Africa, and capturing the beauty of Kenya. I tumbled those three things around in my dryer, and this is the result. Did I know exactly how it would look? Not really. But you always have to leave room for surprises."
What did you want to say with the image "When the Moon Sets"?
What I wanted to make clear with this photo is that there is indeed water in Africa—it just needs help to access it. The blue light mimics moonlight. The moon attracts water, so the water level rises. That's why the face is half in the water.
How did you experience the trip to Kenya?
"One I'll never forget. It was intense, but so much fun. The people are so warm and have a fantastic sense of humor, with just the right dose of sarcasm."
It was wonderful to see how Amref operates there and the respect they receive. You literally saw dry plains where a giant rectangle suddenly turned bright green from the crops growing there. It felt like bringing life back to places where life was nowhere to be seen. Sometimes it was quite emotional, and you could feel, "Why isn't helping people our full-time job?"
What was it like to visit the water projects?
"It was mostly about getting up early. We'd jump in the car with little eyes, but we always managed to open them wide by the time we got to the projects. People should really know what a water pump can do for a huge community! That's why I want to volunteer for things like this more often."
Has this trip influenced your view of the global drinking water problem?
Many people think there's no water in certain places. But there is water everywhere in the world. It's just access to clean drinking water that's a problem.
"People should really know what a water pump can do for a whole large community!"
What impressed you most about the project?
"For me, it was the school. I'll never forget the energy and atmosphere. The wonderful kids who were all eager to have their pictures taken, the reception, the older kids hanging out their laundry, the carrots being pulled out of the ground to taste... I think it took me about half an hour to eat a carrot, by the way."
A small detail. I always talked about one day moving back to Morocco. On a piece of land where I could also start a school and such. This was the perfect example of what I had in mind. So... Inshallah one day!
"I believe you should always give back. That's how being successful in life works."
What message do you hope to convey to a global audience through your photographs?
Always "Unity"! Always "We're not so different from each other"! Sometimes you have to tell a story, especially when it's about places like Africa. I am and feel African. So I strongly believe that we are the windows to the outside world that doesn't visit Africa. I like to show my reality of these places.
About Mous Lamrabat
Self-taught, Mous Lamrabat delved into the world of photography and contributed to prestigious publications such as Vogue Arabia, GW Middle East, and Vanity Fair. His talent has also been utilized in advertising campaigns for renowned brands like YSL Beauty, Chanel, and WhatsApp. He has already had his own solo exhibition, Blessings from Mousganistan, at the renowned photography museum Foam.
Hope and beauty are prominent in Lamrabat's work. His art is stimulating and sometimes reveals a confrontation between the diverse worlds in which he grew up. Using aesthetics and humor as tools, the artist creates powerful, innovative stories around important themes such as human rights, religion, and racism.
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