Lhalim Bnani

Mohamed Bennani, known as the "Artist of Sand and Stone," was a prominent Moroccan painter born in Tetouan. He pursued his studies at the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Fez before moving to Paris in 1962 to attend the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, where he specialized in painting and sculpture. Bennani's distinctive style was characterized by the use of natural materials such as earth, sand, and stone, reflecting his deep connection to the Moroccan landscape.

Throughout his career, Bennani participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, France, Spain, and the United States. In 1993, he collaborated with writer Tahar Ben Jelloun on a book titled "Clair-Obscur," blending visual art with literature. Bennani passed away in Kenitra in 2023 at the age of 80.