Built in the 1927 by French colonists, the coal mine of Hassi B’lal in Jerada, Morocco, was once the largest and best in North Africa. For economic reasons, the mine of Hassi B’lal was closed in 2001. The company offered severance packages to 7,000 workers, but it was not enough for them to survive. The workers continued working at their mines illegally and in inhumane living conditions, deciding to stay and risk their lives rather than abandon their homeland. They live with an incredible amount of dignity and pride. The challenging conditions of illegal workers is widespread throughout the mines of eastern Morocco, many of which have similar colonial histories.
عملت في العديد من الاماكن المختلفة: الدار البيضاء، الرباط، وحتى في فرنسا. هنا فقط أشعر بأني على قيد الحياة .
أحمل جميع مفاتيح أولي. أشعر بالسعادة عندما يأتيني الناس زائرين بهدف استكشاف القرية.
يمكنني أن أفعل أي شيء لجني المال – أقتل، أسرق – ولكنني لا أريد. أفضّل أن أعمل.
أنا رجل مسنّ، فعلت ما توجّب عليّ فعله. والآن، أفكّر في جيل المستقبل في هذه البقعة المنسيّة من المغرب.
A graduate from Fine Arts School in Casablanca, Mehdy Mariouch first studied visual arts and graphic design before coming to photography. His practice explores the border between photojournalism and art. He has contributed to several newspapers and magazines.
A graduate from Fine Arts School in Casablanca, Mehdy Mariouch first studied visual arts and graphic design before coming to photography. His practice explores the border between photojournalism and art. He has contributed to several newspapers and magazines.