Hassan Hajjaj

Hannah Traore Gallery is pleased to present multidisciplinary artist Hassan Hajjaj's first solo exhibition at the gallery, People of My Time. The show, a collection of small-scale photographic portraits taken from 2000 to 2022, depicts figures who have crossed Hajjaj's path across the globe. In brilliant color, accompanied by frames made of repurposed plastic floor mats, the exhibition stands as a testament to global connection. The breadth of Hajjaj's chosen subjects, which spans artists, musicians, designers, and visionaries, underscores the warmth and vitality of the world's many communities.

"Hannah and I share so much common ground, and I'm thrilled to bring this collage of dear friends and collaborators to the gallery and its audience," said Hassan Hajjaj. "This exhibition is an opportunity to connect people across places and generations, a peep through the keyhole to another world."

People of My Time takes its title from the ethos of Hajjaj's practice, for which each portrait captures a moment, person, or story worth sharing. Subjects such as model Imaan Hammam, artist Che Lovelace, DJ Honey Dijon, Moroccan actress Sarah Perles, and Nigerian musician Afrikan Boy are featured in his circle of muses. He interlaces time-honored Moroccan traditions and heritage with the pop iconography of London. The portrait frames recall the bustling markets and eclectic gathering spots of Medina. They anchor the figures in a tactile, lived reality, while their attire and demeanor—embellished sneakers, layered prints, keffiyehs—convey a contemporary spirit. Instead of a static encounter, each photograph-and-frame ensemble is a nod to the fluidity of cultural identity, and a bid to embrace the improvised harmonies that give life its flavor.

Alongside the portraits, Hajjaj also recreates his Marrakesh tearoom "Jajjah" within the walls of the gallery, offering a communal celebratory space for gathering. The Jajjah tea brand, a collaboration between the artist and Amine el Baroudi, offers a sensory journey of seven teas representing the seven saints of Marrakesh. Much like how visitors of Morocco might seek baraka, or "divine favor," the Jajjah tearoom offers a blessed pilgrimage across its blends, and features rising Moroccan artists on its packaging. The onsite Jajjah tearoom at Hannah Traore Gallery is an extension of Hajjaj's colorful and familial universe.

Hassan Hajjaj (b. 1961, Larache, Morocco) is a multidisciplinary artist fusing North African craft traditions with global streetstyle aesthetics across photography, installation, design, and fashion. He has exhibited internationally at the British Museum, London; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris; and Brooklyn Museum, New York. His works are featured in collections such as The Dean Collection; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; the Sharjah Art Foundation; and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Hajjaj has participated in the Dakar Biennale and the Bamako Encounters Biennale of African Photography. He has participated in group exhibitions such as Africa Remix at the Hayward Gallery, London and Contemporary African Photography at various international venues.