The Ball of the Ogres

Aïcha Kandisha has haunted Moroccan popular imagination for centuries, oscillating between the figure of a sacred protector and a terrifying demon. The Institute of Islamic Cultures sheds light on this fascinating myth through a series of works that question the boundaries between the sacred and the monstrous. At times a Canaanite goddess, an elusive djinn, or a woman with camel’s hooves – this polymorphous creature embodies an indomitable feminine power. The artists gathered here reinterpret these ancestral legends to challenge themes of identity and desire. This artistic journey offers a new perspective on an icon that continues to fascinate and frighten, blending animal aesthetics with enchanting grace. One perceives the complexity of Maghrebi beliefs through varied media, paying homage to a figure as seductive as it is unsettling. A significant encounter to approach the force of living mythologies and their current resonance.