Long live the bride!

Marriage is a pivotal moment in the intimate and social lives of women and men all over the world. In the Maghreb, this event is celebrated with great pomp as it is an opportunity to build community by gathering around a collective joy. One of the words for marriage is, in fact, farah, “joy” in Arabic.

To discover: costumes and jewelry never before shown in France

The exhibition is organized around heritage works and will present a selection of about forty costumes and pieces of jewelry never before displayed in France, drawn from Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian collections. These exceptional pieces dating from the 19th to the 20th century celebrate the bride and the women who surround her, while highlighting national and regional specificities, the richness of the heritage, and the practices shared notably between Muslims and Jews. The evolution of the costume, the persistence and specificity of the rituals, and the symbolism and prophylactic aspect are all subjects addressed.
By placing the bride at the heart of the narrative, as well as the role of women during these celebrations – from assembling the trousseau to crafting the pieces or accompanying the bride – the exhibition also seeks to contrast these heritage works with the perspectives of artists, thereby highlighting contemporary societal persistence or evolution.

A voice for 27 contemporary artists

To capture the essence of these festivities in all their diversity, the exhibition, mirroring these rare and exceptional collections, gives a voice to twenty-seven contemporary artists, primarily women, from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and their diasporas, who cast their own subjective gaze on this important moment in social and intimate life, and guide us through the codified stages of marriage to understand what these ritual celebrations say about the societies that practice them today.
The exhibition Long live the bride!, organized at the IMA as part of the Mediterranean Season implemented by the Institut Français, explores marriage as a constantly evolving social ritual. Some artists celebrate the traditions and the moments of collective joy that these festivities allow, and question the legacy of these traditions and their survivals. Others put certain marriage practices into perspective regarding the societies that practice them and the ideologies they convey.

Mixing heritage objects, artistic creations, archives, and an immersive scenography to highlight the tangible and intangible dimensions (dances, music, costumes, food…) of this cultural heritage, the exhibition will be accompanied by a bustling cultural and mediation program, inaugurated by a grand parade under the artistic direction of Mohamed Bourouissa, the festive procession “Tell me about your wedding”.

MORE INFO ON THE FESTIVE PROCESSION “TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WEDDING”