Art, Music and Food Collide in Hassan Hajjaj’s Miami Art Week Pop-Up, DAR MIAMI 1446
Inspired by the vibrancy of Morocco, the installation and exclusive dining experiences prepared by Michelin-star restaurateur Rose Previte are the latest collaboration between The Cultivist and Capital One
Hassan Hajjaj would like to cordially invite you to his home. At least, that’s the message the renowned Moroccan photographer is hoping to convey with his immersive installation for this year’s Miami Art Week. Even the title of the installation, DAR MIAMI 1446, communicates this. Translating from Arabic into the “house of Miami,” with 1446 referencing the Arabic calendar year for 2024, DAR MIAMI 1446 draws inspiration from the rich culture of Hajjaj’s homeland both in the installation’s souk-like design and in the vibrant experiences taking place inside.
Located a few blocks from Art Basel Miami Beach, DAR MIAMI 1446 is the latest Art Week collaboration between the international arts club The Cultivist and Capital One. “Art Week in Miami is one of the most anticipated times of the year for our members and art enthusiasts around the world,” says Marlies Verhoeven, co-founder and CEO of The Cultivist. “We love being able to showcase the creativity and vision of talents like Hassan Hajjaj.”
Through Friday, the installation will be activated with a complimentary tea salon created by Hajjaj and Michelin-starred restaurateur Rose Previte. Visitors can also purchase limited edition merchandise designed by Hajjaj to benefit the Miami Foundation, which supports underserved communities through initiatives centered on issues like youth empowerment, affordable housing and immigration. Merch offerings include hats, sweatshirts and slippers created with repurposed shopping bags advertising goods and food one might find in a Moroccan market.
During the evenings, Capital One cardholders can book exclusive culinary experiences in Hajjaj’s installation, brought to life by Previte. At a preview on Tuesday evening, communal tables overflowed with the award-winning restaurateur’s spectacular fare that brought together an assortment of Middle Eastern flavors. Drawing inspiration from the communal Tawle (Arabic for table) style of serving that Previte has become known for at her Washington, DC restaurant Maydan, the event was both celebratory and intimate, intended to feel like a shared home meal.
For Hajjaj, the concept for the souk-like installation came from the pop-up space itself. “The location is a bit quirky, but seeing the building gave me the whole idea for the project,” he says. Far from a white cube setting, the space consists of a series of rooms separated by arches that immediately reminded Hajjaj of the similar architectural feature that is a defining characteristic of Moroccan visual language. “It was the perfect canvas for me, we barely touched the physical structure,” he says. On this metaphorical canvas, Hajjaj filled the walls and floors with intricate, colorful patterns featuring Moroccan-inspired imagery like pomegranates and figs. “I drew from things like Oriental rugs and translated the rich, dense designs into iconography from my life and culture and with a contemporary lens,” he says.
Each room has a unique palette, with bright yellows representing the sun adorning a communal gathering space or breathing room as Hajjaj calls it, earthy greens filling the tea salon and rich reds filling the stunning dining area. On view in the communal space are works from Hajjaj’s acclaimed U-Lot (2010) series of photographs and videos that features veiled women boldly staring at the viewer–directing their gaze with resilience to show them as at once strong and compassionate.
Angled walls in DAR MIAMI 1446 divide the larger areas further, creating cozy, intimate alcove spaces and guiding the visitor’s movement through the rooms. This sense of exploration and discovery was a major draw for Hajjaj. “I wanted something homely where people can sit, eat, and share stories, or take a break from their lives with a cup of tea,” the artist says. “Big, rectangular rooms don’t inspire contemplation. I want people to discover different corners and nooks and different layers to the decorative patterns.”
While the design and experiences form two parts of Hajjaj’s vision, the installation, he says, would be incomplete without a third element: music. To this end, Moroccan musician Simo Lagnawi is performing live Gnawa (traditional Moroccan music) during the tea services and dinner experiences on Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, the space is being further activated with performances by DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak) and Shaboozey on Wednesday, and Kaytranada and DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak) on Thursday, though available exclusively to Capital One cardholders.
Whether for a tea session or to savor Previte’s exemplary fare, locals and Art Week visitors alike can get a glimpse into Hajjaj’s vibrant culture and take a break from the marathon of art fairs and exhibitions the busy event has to offer. As Hajjaj puts it, “We have food, art, and music–what more could you want?”
DAR MIAMI 1446 is open through 6 December, with the final dinner and performance on 5 December, at 530 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
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