Born in Rabat (1991), multi-talented and self-taught creative, Muhcine Ennou has been experimenting with artistic expression since his early childhood. Growing up passionate about electronics, computers and repairing engines, he came across a music production software, which started his career in the creative industry during his high school years. Within a few days, he was producing his first songs and beats, which he later started distributing to rappers from California, USA. Soon enough, having lost his interest in creating music for others, he turned to Graphic Design working solely on his own projects and ideas.
While working as a Designer, Muhcine received his first camera as a gift from his uncle. Having no idea about Photography, what to photograph or how, he kept taking pictures of random people and places in Rabat, exploring his curiosity and latest obsession. In retrospect, Muhcine realises that even in his early work, there is an unintentional but strong relation to his childhood, a longing to the freedom of being a kid, a theme which remains dominant throughout his work. The playful, nostalgic and melancholic feeling present in his work, combined with his strong influences from his favourite films, create a unique aesthetic approach and vision.
Muhcine, while still in Morocco founded an Association of Photography, in order to connect both local and international Photography enthusiasts, regulate workshops and collaborate with foreign institutions, attracting the attention of the US Embassy. Soon enough, Muhcine got offered a scholarship in a form of grant, allowing him to follow masterclasses at Universities in both New York and Los Angeles.
About his experience in the USA, he says: “I saw Photography in a museum for the first time and everything started making sense to me. I saw William Eggleston and realised there was a lot of resemblance and sense to what I’m doing. I went back to Morocco and had my first exhibition. The Embassy purchased a series of my work and that was the beginning of my journey, back in 2013. I started meeting curators from around the world through the Association and my work was shown in Paris, Dubai, Spain, The Netherlands”.
Having rapidly attracted international attention, he relocated to The Netherlands, as an artist in residence in Rotterdam, three months before the pandemic. Finding himself trapped in a completely new and different environment, in which he could not take any photos, he started experimenting with CGI and pretty soon he jumped into the NFT world. “Either swim or sink!” is his motto and he fully embodies it!
Since then, Muhcine has moved to Amsterdam and works as an Artist/Director and Creative Director for various brands, companies and projects. Muhcine’s work has been exhibited in Morocco, United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, UAE, Kuwait among others and has been included in numerous publications and private collections.