About

Fenduq is the atelier of Belgian artist Eric van Hove in Marrakesh. It is a production facility founded in 2014 following on the birth of V12 Laraki, a large sculpture the artist created alongside 42 Moroccan master craftsmen.

The name Fenduq is a combination of ‘fenn’, the word for ‘art’ in Arabic, and ‘funduq’, the workshop/trading post from the past which it hopes to revitalize; a inn, workshop and marketplace all into one.
Fenduq is the backbone of the artist’s vision of a collective and multidisciplinary approach towards a few clear goals: rejuvenating African craft in the post-Fordist 21st century, hybridize craft, art, design and mainstream industrial output in search for a new socio-economic and aesthetic equilibrium, and ponder the legacy and future of contemporary art’s relationship with society while entering the meta-modern era.

Typically, Eric Van Hove and his expansive team reinterpret industrial icons of the 20th century using a wide variety of craft materials and techniques from the Maghreb and beyond: one large sculpture comes out of Fenduq each year alongside various long-term endeavours like the Mahjouba Initiative.
On occasion, understanding the importance of connecting contemporary artists to the versatility and potential of Moroccan craftsmanship, Fenduq also helpes produce the work of other artists. Over the years the studio produced and helped a selection of international artists, among whom Sammy Baloji, Haig Aivazian, Yto Barrada, Younès Rahmoun, Dana Awartani, Walid Raad, M’Barek Bouchichi, Ali Cherri or Jumana Manna to name but a few.

a 2CV Gear Box model 1965 in the making in 2016 (Photo Fenduq)

129 — curator Phillip Van Den Bossche speaking to a visitor during the Atchilihtallah exhibition at Mu.ZEE, Oostend, Belgium in 2017 (photo Eva Munday)

a detail of the V12 Laraki Gear Box at MUDAM Luxembourg in 2015 (photo Fenduq)

a visitor at fenduq during the 154 Art Fair in 2019 (Photo Adnane Zemmama)

Al'Atlassi (Wright R-790 Whirlwind) after completion in 2019 (Photo Samya Abid) — Al'Atlassi (Wright R-790 Whirlwind) sitting in the atelier after completion in 2018 (Photo Samya Abid)

D9T (Rachel's Tribute) being born at Fenduq in 2015 (Photo Fenduq)

dearly missed Abdellatif Farhat at work in 2015 (photo Haik Ahekian) — dearly missed Maâlem Abdellatif Farhat at work in 2015 (photo Haik Ahekian)

Jean-Louis Van Hove with V12 Laraki at the Frankfurter Kunstverein in 2016 (Photo Eva Munday) — Jean-Louis Van Hove with V12 Laraki at the Frankfurter Kunstverein, Germany in 2016 (Photo Eva Munday)

Michel Assenmaker facing V12 Laraki at STUK Leuven in 2014 (photo Joeri Thiry) — Michel Assenmaker facing V12 Laraki at STUK Leuven, Belgium in 2014 (photo Joeri Thiry)

Sammy Baloji's The Other Memorial being made at Fenduq in 2015 (Photo Fenduq)

The inner crate of the Alfasud being finalized in 2018 (Photo Frank Ellenberger) — the inner crate of Alfasud being finalized in 2018 (Photo Frank Ellenberger)

the office at Fenduq in 2019 (photo Dim Balsem) — the Fenduq office viewed from outside in 2019 (photo Dim Balsem)

Untitled (Citroën Xsara_Picasso hubcap) sitting at Fenduq in 2014 (photo Philipp Löffler)

V12 Laraki on show at STUK Leuven in 2014 (photo Joeri Thiry) — V12 Laraki on show at STUK Leuven, Belgium in 2014 (photo Joeri Thiry)

a view of the atelier 2015 (Photo Fenduq)

working on Dana Awartani's Platonic Solid Sculptures in 2016 (Photo Eva Munday)

Working on the Fryske Engine commission for Fries Museum in 2019 (Photo Jan Bensliman) — working on Ús Heit (Claas Jaguar OM422 V8), a commission for the Fries Museum in 2019 (Photo Jan Bensliman)

Production for other artists

Walid Raad – No Title I-IV. (2014)
Photo: Kimberly Bradley for Artsy (Marrakech Biennale 5: WHERE ARE WE NOW? – 2014)
http://www.theatlasgroup.org

Dana Awartani – Dodecahedron Within an Icosahedron (2016)
Photo: Athr Gallery
http://danaawartani.com/

Haig Aivazian – Rome Is Not In Rome (2016)
Photo: Jens Martin (Marrakech Biennale 6: NOT NEW NOW – 2016)
https://haigaivazian.com

Jumana Manna – Grid from [The Contractor’s Heel] (2016)
Photo: Jens Martin (Marrakech Biennale 6: NOT NEW NOW – 2016)
http://www.jumanamanna.com

Sammy Baloji – The other Memorial (2015)
Photo: Follow Art With Us – LA BIENALE DI VENEZIA (L’Arsenal) 2015
Imane Fares Gallery

M’Barek Bouchichi – Re-enactment Act III (2020)
Photo: M’Barek Bouchichi (2020) – Selma Feriani Gallery
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

M’Barek Bouchichi – Re-enactment Act II (2020)
Photo: M’Barek Bouchichi (2020) – Selma Feriani Gallery
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

M’Barek Bouchichi – Re-enactment Act I (2020)
Photo: M’Barek Bouchichi (2020) – Selma Feriani Gallery
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

Mohammed Belmabkhout – Untitled (2020)
Photo: Fenduq (2020)
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

Yto Barrada – Sans titre (Untitled) (2020)
Graine d’Iris fétide (i. foetidissima) – argent, laiton & cuivre rouge
Stinking Iris Seeds (i. foetidissima) – silver-wielded brass & sand-casted red copper
Photo: Badr El Hardag (2020)
http://ytobarrada.com/
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

Yto Barrada – Sans titre (Untitled) (2020)
Essais de teinture à la rouille. Fig. 1-4. – lin & rouille
Rust Dye Practice Pieces. Fig. 1-4. – linen cloth & rust
Photo: Badr El Hardag (2020)
http://ytobarrada.com/
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

Abdelkhadere Hmidouche – Yusuf ibn Tashfin (trois bustes) (2020)
Photo: Fenduq (2020)
Produced as part of the Malhoun 2.0 exhibition, hosted by Fenduq and curated by Philip Van Den Bossche during the 1-54 African Art Fair 2020 in Marrakech

Younès Rahmoun – Nakhla-Nakhla (2020)
Photo: Badr El Hardag
https://www.younesrahmoun.com
Imane Fares Gallery