Yamou
Abderrahim Yamou (b. 1959, Casablanca, Morocco) known as Yamou–is a Moroccan artist who lives and works between Paris and Tahanaout, Morocco.
He studied at the Sorbonne, where he obtained a DEA in contemporary art in Morocco. In the late 1980s, he established his studio in the Paris suburbs, marking the beginning of his artistic journey. Initially trained in biology and sociology at the University of Toulouse and later at the Sorbonne, Yamou also pursued studies in art history and design. By 1990, he fully dedicated himself to his artistic practice, and today, his work is exhibited in international galleries and museums.
A Pictorial Exploration of Nature
From his earliest works, nature has occupied a central place in Yamou’s artistic expression, both in the materials he employs and the subjects he depicts. His paintings form a pictorial garden, which he continuously explores and reinvents. He cultivates plant motifs within his canvases, transforming his art into a vibrant, living space. More than a representation of landscapes, his work focuses on intricate details—sometimes leafy and abundant, sometimes bare—capturing the quiet strength and weightlessness of plant life.
In 1997, Yamou began incorporating sand and earth into his paintings, creating compositions inspired by the prehistoric cave paintings of the Atlas Mountains, often featuring animals such as ibexes, rams, and gazelles. By 1998, he introduced more subtle, muted color palettes and experimented with transparency effects, calligraphy, and organic forms—leaves, flowers, branches, gardens, and forests. According to Yamou, “Plants are both continuity and change. They are also photosynthesis, as they bring life.” His poetic compositions often take the form of diptychs, exploring how two distinct elements merge into one, as seen in Les Petits Ailleurs.
Between Figuration and Abstraction
In the 2000s, Yamou’s exploration of nature deepened, shifting toward the microscopic and cellular level. His “germinations” series investigates the earliest forms of life, revealing the hidden structures of organic matter. In his studio, which he describes as a laboratory, he examines cellular networks (Cellules rouges et vertes, 2015), where forms appear to multiply and intertwine endlessly—what he calls the “ordinary miracle of life.” These works blur the line between figuration and abstraction, inviting viewers to experience the unseen world of plant and cellular growth.
Sculpture and Material Experimentation
Beyond painting, Yamou also creates sculptures using everyday objects, tools, and utensils. His piece La Chaise (2010) exemplifies this practice, drawing inspiration from traditional African art, particularly Congolese N’konde statues. His sculptures, often spiked with hundreds of nails, feature oxidized metal surfaces from which small human silhouettes or live plants emerge, symbolizing both resilience and the fragility of existence.
Recognition and Collections
Yamou’s work has been acquired by prestigious collections, including the ONA Foundation (Morocco), the Neuberger Museum of Art (USA), the World Bank (USA), the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (France), and the Written Art Foundation (Germany).
He continues to live and work between Paris and Tahanaout, Morocco.
Abderrahim Yamou (b. 1959, Casablanca, Morocco) known as Yamou–is a Moroccan artist who lives and works between Paris and Tahanaout, Morocco.
He studied at the Sorbonne, where he obtained a DEA in contemporary art in Morocco. In the late 1980s, he established his studio in the Paris suburbs, marking the beginning of his artistic journey. Initially trained in biology and sociology at the University of Toulouse and later at the Sorbonne, Yamou also pursued studies in art history and design. By 1990, he fully dedicated himself to his artistic practice, and today, his work is exhibited in international galleries and museums.
A Pictorial Exploration of Nature
From his earliest works, nature has occupied a central place in Yamou’s artistic expression, both in the materials he employs and the subjects he depicts. His paintings form a pictorial garden, which he continuously explores and reinvents. He cultivates plant motifs within his canvases, transforming his art into a vibrant, living space. More than a representation of landscapes, his work focuses on intricate details—sometimes leafy and abundant, sometimes bare—capturing the quiet strength and weightlessness of plant life.
In 1997, Yamou began incorporating sand and earth into his paintings, creating compositions inspired by the prehistoric cave paintings of the Atlas Mountains, often featuring animals such as ibexes, rams, and gazelles. By 1998, he introduced more subtle, muted color palettes and experimented with transparency effects, calligraphy, and organic forms—leaves, flowers, branches, gardens, and forests. According to Yamou, “Plants are both continuity and change. They are also photosynthesis, as they bring life.” His poetic compositions often take the form of diptychs, exploring how two distinct elements merge into one, as seen in Les Petits Ailleurs.
Between Figuration and Abstraction
In the 2000s, Yamou’s exploration of nature deepened, shifting toward the microscopic and cellular level. His “germinations” series investigates the earliest forms of life, revealing the hidden structures of organic matter. In his studio, which he describes as a laboratory, he examines cellular networks (Cellules rouges et vertes, 2015), where forms appear to multiply and intertwine endlessly—what he calls the “ordinary miracle of life.” These works blur the line between figuration and abstraction, inviting viewers to experience the unseen world of plant and cellular growth.
Sculpture and Material Experimentation
Beyond painting, Yamou also creates sculptures using everyday objects, tools, and utensils. His piece La Chaise (2010) exemplifies this practice, drawing inspiration from traditional African art, particularly Congolese N’konde statues. His sculptures, often spiked with hundreds of nails, feature oxidized metal surfaces from which small human silhouettes or live plants emerge, symbolizing both resilience and the fragility of existence.
Recognition and Collections
Yamou’s work has been acquired by prestigious collections, including the ONA Foundation (Morocco), the Neuberger Museum of Art (USA), the World Bank (USA), the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (France), and the Written Art Foundation (Germany).
He continues to live and work between Paris and Tahanaout, Morocco.
