We’ve all got mates who think they’re rock stars – you mostly just have to grin and bear their delusions. Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj has got different ideas. He’s positively encouraging his chums, dressing them up in the blingiest bling and parading them in front of the camera for photoshoots.
My Rock Stars: Volume 2 is the continuation of Hajjaj’s sly fusion of street portraiture and fashion photography, recasting his close friends as the fictional objects of attention and adoration in Morocco, London and Paris shoots. The streets become the studio with the simple addition of woven mats, and his friends take on the starring role dressed in outlandish costumes designed by the photographer and some seriously ostentatious accessories. Once the stars have strutted their stuff, the images are mounted in wooden frames surrounded by items from Moroccan markets. Soup schmoop, tinned mackerel is the future. Hajjaj has an interesting group of friends even when they aren’t pretending to be rock stars; you might be able to spot the capoeira master among them, and there’s also a musician, a dancer, a fashion designer and restaurateur among the group. Los Angeles gallery Gusford is showing the collection from 10 January to 22 February.
Hassan Hajjaj,
Mr J. C-Hayford, 2013,
metallic Lambda print on Dibond
with wood and found objects,
35 x 24.5 in,
courtesy of the artist
and GUSFORD | los angeles
Hassan Hajjaj,
Rilene, 2013,
metallic Lambda print on Dibond
with wood and found objects,
52.5 x 38 in,
courtesy of the artist
and GUSFORD | los angeles
Hassan Hajjaj,
Mr K. Jones, 2013,
metallic Lambda print on Dibond
with wood and found objects,
53.5 x 37 in,
courtesy of the artist
and GUSFORD | los angeles
Hassan Hajjaj,
Afrikan Boy, 2013,
metallic Lambda print on Dibond
with wood and found objects,
53.5 x 37 in,
courtesy of the artist
and GUSFORD | los angeles
Hassan Hajjaj,
Mr J. James, 2013,
metallic Lambda print on Dibond
with wood and found objects,
36.5 x 25 in,
courtesy of the artist
and GUSFORD | los angeles
