Play on Craft

This installation transforms the timeless game of chess into a celebration of Moroccan craftsmanship.

Featuring 32 sculptural pieces made of traditional jacquard fabrics and foam, the work invites visitors to engage with heritage in a playful way.

Co-created with artisans from Fes & Rabat, the project is a vibrant homage to the handmade—each piece a unique blend of tradition and bold design.

The installation uses the familiar structure of chess to explore deeper themes of hierarchy, interdependence, & collective creation.

Like in the game, the king may be central, but he is powerless without the other pieces—a metaphor for the value of community in any creative process. 'Without the artisans, I am nothing', says Sophia.

Chess has been revisited by many artistic movements, including Art Nouveau, Surrealism, Fluxus or Pop Art.

With Zoubida, the board is more than a game - it becomes a living artwork.