In the coming months, I will go to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to better understand the specificity and the organization of various oasis spaces and local communities. “The first opportunities I have are currently concentrated in the Gulf countries. “At the same time, I am looking to explore in a comparative way the conditions of other countries that have oases,” he told Arab News. Kilito will present images from the project at an upcoming show at Gown Contemporary in Geneva, Switzerland, and hopes to also produce a book from the series. Additionally, he hopes to raise awareness on the need to protect the ancestral intangible heritage of the nomadic culture in Morocco that exists in these oases. Through his powerful, haunting and evocative photographs, Kilito hopes to draw attention to the disappearance of oases due to climate change, alert public opinion, policy makers and concerned organizations. He decided to work on the project, he said, to “highlight these multiple concerns rarely covered by the media and largely unknown to the general public.” “I realized that desertification, recurrent droughts and fires, changes in agricultural practices, overexploitation of natural resources, rural exodus and the sharp drop in the water table are all imminent threats to the existence of oases,” he said in his artist statement for the award. Showcasing the project in an exhibition and in the Leica catalogue will allow it to reach a wider audience and raise awareness about the reality of oases and their inhabitants in the face of the effects of climate change,” he added.ĭue to the impact of climate change and rising temperatures, the frequency of droughts has increased in Morocco, negatively impacting the country’s oases that are located in arid and semi-arid regions and considered an ecological defense against desertification as well as a crucial refuge for biodiversity. “Just being a finalist is a real honor and a great privilege. “This is one of the most prestigious awards one can receive as a photographer,” Kilito told Arab News. ‘Before It’s Gone’ by M'hammed Kilito/VII Agency.

The 41-year-old photographer was shortlisted for “Before It’s Gone,” an ongoing multidisciplinary art project that highlights the degradation of oases in Morocco. In his work, he seeks to explore narratives pertinent to the understanding of cultural identity, climate change and the sociology of the workforce. In addition to gracing the runways of storied fashion houses that most models can only dream of - her portfolio includes Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Jacquemus, among others - the fashion star has also appeared in international campaigns for the likes of Off-White, Calvin Klein and Lanvin.īesides being a catwalk fixture, El-Maslouhi has quite a few magazine spreads under her belt, including Vogue, Russia British Vogue and Dazed Magazine.ĭUBAI: Documentary photographer M’hammad Kilito has been shortlisted for the 42nd edition of the prestigious Leica Oskar Barnack Award.īorn in Lviv, Ukraine, Kilito grew up in Rabat, Morocco, where he is now based. The campaign video starred Saudi actress Mila Al-Zahrani, Emirati singer Almas, Bahraini journalist Nada Al-Shaibani, Saudi chef Sama Jaad, Qatari artist Alftoon Al-Janahi and Kuwaiti actress Eman Al-Hussaini, who all sit around a table enjoying each other’s company during suhoor while decked out in Messika jewels in the clip.Īs for El-Maslouhi, the model is no stranger to the limelight. The “Lailat Messika” campaign was lensed by award-winning Emirati director Abdulla Al-Kaabi and Tunisian photographer Moez Achour. In April, Messika launched its first-ever Ramadan campaign titled “Lailat Messika” in collaboration with six well-known creatives from the region. It is not the first time the jewelry label has paid tribute to the Middle East. Big thanks to my brother for giving me the opportunity to work with this exceptional stone,” the designer added, referring to Ilan Messika.

“Special to my heart, Akh-Ba-Ka, (the) masterpiece of the collection, boasts a constellation of 15 exceptional diamonds cut from the same 110-carat rough stone. I have imagined it as a magical odyssey evoking passion, audacity and excellence,” Messika said on Instagram. “I am proud to unveil the first opus of my new high jewelry collection, ‘Beyond the Light.’ An ode to the fascinating and mysterious Ancient Egypt. This entire set is composed of a pair of asymmetrical earrings and a transformable ring that can be worn three different ways. A post shared by Messika Paris the campaign images, El-Maslouhi shows off a necklace made of white gold with 15 diamonds totaling 71 carats.

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