LA MALIKA DEL REGATEO

Rabat, Morocco

I travelled to Rabat, Morocco, to create a new mural “La Malika del regateo” as part of JIDAR Street Art Festival, an experience that felt both intense and deeply human.

At its centre appears an older woman negotiating at the market. Her gesture (pointing decisively while closing a deal) captures a deeply familiar moment: the quiet satisfaction of having secured a good bargain. A small everyday action that, to me, becomes a form of affirmation, confidence and authority.

Markets are spaces where many women exercise an informal but undeniable power. Places where intuition, persistence, humour and lived experience become forms of knowledge passed through generations.

“The mural continues my ongoing exploration of ageing, femininity and the subtle forms of power that emerge through everyday life.”

Rather than constructing an exotic image of Morocco, I wanted to focus on something lived and recognisable: fragments of the market, ceramics, fruit, parasols, textures and everyday urban life. The mural blends contemporary and traditional references, reflecting the coexistence of both realities within the city.

“Humour in my work is never about ridicule,  it’s a way of observing and amplifying what already exists.”

Humour remains central to my practice. Through it, I try to create images that feel close, human and slightly uncomfortable at the same time. In this mural, the feminist perspective appears quietly, through negotiation, insistence and the awareness of one’s own value.

The experience itself was truly special. I felt incredibly welcomed and supported throughout the entire process by the whole Jidar team, who somehow managed to keep everything running smoothly despite us changing cranes three different times during production.

Thank you Rabat, thank you Jidar team ❤️

All pictures by Hamza Nouino

MARZO 2026