Leila Alaoui

Vernissage on 6 May:
18:30 Cocktail Reception
19:30 Speeches

The Ecolint Centre des arts presents an exhibition dedicated to Leila Alaoui, paying tribute to her work, her journey, and her deeply humanistic vision. The exhibition is organised in close collaboration with the Fondation Alaoui, the CILA (Leila Alaoui Intercultural Centre), and Galleria Continua.

Tragically killed on 18 January 2016 in Ouagadougou at the age of 33, Leila Alaoui left behind a body of work of remarkable power. Ten years after her passing, this exhibition brings together an exceptional selection of her photographs, including iconic series, rarely exhibited works, and photographic ensembles that reveal the richness and coherence of her artistic practice.

This project is rooted in the shared values of International Geneva and the International School of Geneva — openness to the world, respect for diversity, and a commitment to peace — which strongly echo those upheld by the artist throughout her career.

Through her work, Leila Alaoui explored themes that remain both vital and urgent: identity, migration, women’s rights, and the living conditions of migrant workers. Both aesthetic and engaged, her work continues to challenge and deepen our understanding of the contemporary world.

Her approach is distinguished by a profoundly humanistic vision. With rare sensitivity, she captures the dignity of her subjects and gives a voice to those too often overlooked.

Her images build bridges between cultures, revealing the invisible connections between identities, histories, and territories. They reflect a sincere commitment: to make the unseen visible and to create meaningful connections through art.

Leila Alaoui’s legacy is more relevant than ever. Her singular perspective invites us to reflect on our shared humanity and powerfully reminds us of photography’s essential role in shaping our understanding of the world.

Acknowledgements

The Alaoui family, Yasmina Alaoui, Galeria Continua, Valeria Baronchelli of Galleria Continua, Sunghee Lee of the Solutions FinArt workshop in Arles, Yousra Jarni, Ranvir Shah and Shrikkanth Govindarajan, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.

Exhibition Curatorship

• Lara Milosevic, Exhibition Curator and specialist in Leila Alaoui’s work, responsible for the exhibition’s conception, the compilation of the archives, the writing of texts, and project oversight from its inception in collaboration with Isabelle Muller and Nabil Canaan, with the agreement of the Alaoui family.
• Mélanie Delaune, Co-Curator, specialist in exhibition design and logistics, responsible for coordination as well as technical and administrative operations.
• Manuel Fadat, Co-Curator, specialist in image analysis and exhibition design, responsible for technical and administrative operations.