Villa Sahrai Casablanca Hosts “L’Instinct du Geste,” an Exhibition by Hassan Kouhen

Hassan Kouhen returns to Casablanca with L’Instinct du Geste, an exhibition at Villa Sahrai in collaboration with ART FIRST. Bringing together nearly twenty paintings from the past decade, the selection traces an abstract practice shaped by movement, colour and memory. Its opening reception took place on 14 October 2026.

Hassan Kouhen Exhibition: A Decade in Motion

Across these canvases, gesture becomes a language of its own. Traces of the brush and palette knife convey emotion, allowing movement and texture to guide each composition. Rather than depicting recognisable scenes, Kouhen draws on the changing experiences of his life.

In turn, the selection offers a view of a practice that accommodates both darker periods and moments of happiness. Colour carries this emotional range, while the painted surface preserves the immediacy of the artist’s hand.

Between Morocco and North America

Born in Fez in 1955, Kouhen trained at the Vancouver School of Fine Arts. Today, he divides his time between Lake Forest, California, and Casablanca. His artistic journey has therefore developed across Morocco and North America, alongside the personal memories that inform his work.

However, the exhibition’s emphasis remains on painting itself. The relationship between artist, material and canvas gives these works their focus, inviting viewers to consider how a gesture can hold an emotion.

Art Within the Experience of a Place

For Villa Sahrai, the Hassan Kouhen exhibition adds a cultural dimension to its hospitality offering. Moreover, the collaboration brings hotel visitors and art enthusiasts into contact with an artist returning to the Casablanca scene.

ART FIRST, an itinerant gallery dedicated to promoting Moroccan and African artists, supports that encounter. Together, the partners position the exhibition as an occasion for discovery and conversation around contemporary Moroccan creation.

A Contemporary Setting on the Corniche

Overlooking the Atlantic in Anfa, Villa Sahrai Casablanca belongs to the Design Hotels collection. The five-star property comprises 56 rooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, a 300-square-metre spa and a fitness club.

Its architectural vision comes from Christophe Pillet, with interior contributions from Ali Lahlou and Deer Home, among others. Within this setting, Mediterranean influences and local craftsmanship provide the context for a hospitality experience that now extends to Kouhen’s paintings.

A Place for Looking

Ultimately, L’Instinct du Geste centres on the expressive possibilities of paint. Through nearly twenty works, Kouhen’s return offers Casablanca audiences an opportunity to follow a decade of artistic exploration. At Villa Sahrai, that encounter begins with the marks, colours and emotions held within each canvas.