On March 20, 2020, state of health emergency and very strict mandatory confinement began in Morocco, for a duration of 96 days. We could not go out without authorization, wearing masks was since the first cases and is still until today mandatory and we had a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am. I spent those days at home with my parents who are elderly and have a weak immune system. I took preventive measures by avoiding going out to diminish the chances of contamination, as they are very sensitive cases.
I usually don't photograph my parents, they don't let me do because they are a little shy, but during the days spent together, they did let me take pictures. Maybe they felt bad for me because I could not photograph anymore for my ongoing projects and that my exhibitions and artist residencies have been cancelled or postponed. So, I started a Confinement diary documenting what we are going through by photographing my parents, their activities, the little park where they take their dog for walks and details of their home.
Finally, since my return to Morocco, five years ago (I used to live in Canada), I photographed exclusively in colour. The vibrant colours felt and seemed to me embedded in the Moroccan culture. The actual unreal Covid-19 crisis and how fictional it seems inspired me to photograph in black and white.
I have never seen the craft souk of Rabat so empty, most stores are closed and merchants who open their stores do it just for the form so as not to stay at home. Their main customers are tourists and Moroccans living abroad. Neither have been able to access the country because of the closure of the borders of Covid-19. A salesman who refused to be photographed told me that this is unheard of, there are at least 10 stores that have closed and are selling their premises, while in normal days it is almost impossible to find a store for sale. Carpet merchants to attract attention even begin to spread the carpets on the main avenue what we have never seen before in the city.
M'hammed Kilito Photography
M'hammed Kilito is Moroccan photographer based in Rabat, Morocco. He is represented internationally by Loft Art Gallery and Native Agency.