march_al

Laurent Mareschal was born in 1975 in Paris, where he still lives. His work is closely related to the artist’s concern regarding the lack of communication, a phenomenon that he tries to explore through the audience. His work is highly influenced by decorative art elements of design from the Middle East.

Even without looking, his work evokes emotional memory thanks to the strong scent of spice. The installation, which is made of seasoning laid in decorative shape, represents the floor of an apartment. This decorative pattern is found on the cement slabs of many Palestinian homes built between 1880 and 1930.

The traces of their origins date back to 1850 in southern France, inspired by nature, as well as by traditional Islamic figures.

There have been many links between France and the Arab world, among which the most important moment to mention is the period of Algerian invasion from France.

These tiles were then exported to Palestine by French companies and fitted according to the tastes of the area. Beiti proves a multidimensional cultural heritage, but the smell of the tiles in this installation raises reflection on the extreme fragility of Palestinian homes.