Who is 2fik?
Born in Paris in a Moroccan Muslim family, 2Fik has lived in France for most of his life. As he also spent several years in Morocco. In 2003, on the spur-of-the-moment, he decided to move to Montreal, a destination chosen for its apparent tranquility. Following his emigration experiences, 2Fik rapidly found himself amidst a world that inspires him about indentity, political and socials problematics.
As an artistic director, photographer and model, 2Fik captures pictures of himself that he likens to a single image. He can therefore be found several times in his photographs, in various attitudes and sporting a range of accessories. Through his toying with reality and fiction, the viewer becomes confused. 2Fik’s recurrent characters end up embodying real individuals to whom the artist gives a complete identity: personality, age, sex, origin, occupation and interests. These figures are related to each other: they arise from the universe and life experiences of the artist.
2Fik assigns them traits taken from his own personality, discreetly unfolding through his disguises. The protagonists come to live against the backdrop of a multicultural Montreal, simultaneously creating time a TV-style reality show where their destinies revolve around Fatima. She is central to all the other characters, whose amount and relations evolve with time. The sum of these character’s experiences and their emotional baggage add up to different social realities, providing keys to understanding their respective existence.
Conducted from a voyeuristic perspective, the photographs generate our desire to know what was happening outside the frame. However, a second interpretation takes us beyond reality television, because these lives are in reality a reflection of our current society. 2Fik’s photographs and performances draw the viewer into a true societal melting pot. At first glance his approach induces laughter, however on a subtextual level the mood darkens to the point where viewers might find themselves questioning their own identity. 2Fik intends a playful, yet powerful approach as he attempts to achieve a social reflection.
The approach intended by 2Fik is a playful, yet powerful in the sub-text to achieve a social reflection. Stereotypes encourage viewers to discuss the idea of universality, men and women equality and the acceptance of being unique.
However, what makes us unique?
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
« 3C By 2Fik »
The Invisible Dog, New York City // October 31st to November 28th, 2015« 2Fik : Mix N Match »
Weil Gallery, TAMUCC, Corpus-Christi (Texas) // October 8th to December 4th, 2015« 2Fik’s Museum »
Usine C, Montreal // February 17th to March 28th, 2015
Espace Gallery, Montreal // January 15th to 22nd, 2014
The French House, Washington DC // May 23rd to June 29th, 2013
The Invisible Dog, New York City // April 20th to May 19th, 2013« Unreleased »
Gallerywest, Toronto // May 2nd to 30th, 2013« 2Fik Or Not 2Fik »
The Invisible Dog, New York City // September 16th to November 6th, 2011
Gallerywest, Toronto // October 2nd to 31st, 2010
Fifth Parallel Gallery, Regina // May 30th to June 12th, 2010
Galerie SAS, Montréal // August 26th to September 26th, 2009GROUP EXHIBITIONS
« TSG: Fall to pieces » – Gladstone Hotel, Toronto // 4 juin au 9 août 2015
« Art Souterrain » – Guy Favreau, Montreal // March 1st to 16th, 2014
« Transgression Now » – Roundhouse, Vancouver // July 24th to August 9th, 2013
« Papier » – Galerie SAS, Montréal // April 11th to June 8th, 2013
« Brise-Glace » – Place des Arts, Montreal // February 3rd to 13th, 2011
« Papier 10 » – Contemporary art fair, Montreal // April 15th to 18th, 2010
« Espèces vulnérables » – Eastern Bloc, Montreal // December 10th to 13th, 2009ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES
« 2Fik Does Strongbow and Aoife »
Dublin Fringe Festival, Ireland // August 18th to September 13th, 2014« Reinterpreting Bukovac »
Queer Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia // July 3rd to august 10th, 2013« Creating 2Fik’s Museum »
The Invisible Dog, New York // September 14th to october 1st, 2012
The Invisible Dog, New York // May 6th to 23rd, 2012
The Invisible Dog, New York // September 16th to october 16th, 2011PERFORMANCES
« 2Fik Court la Chasse-Galerie »
Festival TransAmériques (Montréal) // may 28th, 29th and 30th, 2016« Salam Aleykoum »
“Nuit Blanche” (Montréal), Usine C // 2015« A Semitic Score < O/2Fik #999 »
“Rhubarb Festival” (Toronto), “OFFTA” (Montreal) // 2011
“Night & Day” (Oxford), Queer City Cinema festival” (Regina) // 2010
“SPARK” & “Instruction” (Montreal) // 2010« Live Photoshoot »
“Reinterpreting Bukovac”, Contemporary Art Museum, Zagreb, Croatia // July, 17th, 2013
“SALSH 2011”, CEGEP Édouard Montpetit, Longueuil, CA // March 29th, 2011
“Rhubarb Festival”, Buddies in Bad Times Theater, Toronto, CA // February 20th, 2011
“Art Souterrain”, Nuit blanche, Montreal, CA // February 27th, 2010