M'HAMMED KILITO - EXPOSURE INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL

Located in arid and semi-arid regions and considered an ecological bulwark against desertification and an important refuge for biodiversity, oases constitute an original ecosystem, based on the right balance of three elements: The abundance of water, the quality of the soil, and the presence of date palms. The date palms with their parasol-shaped foliage create a humid microclimate, shaded from the wind and favorable to the development of plants. For the past twenty years, this balance no longer exists and these islands of greenery in the middle of the desert are suffering the impacts of human intervention and climate change. Indeed, according to official statistics from the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, over the last century, Morocco has already lost two-thirds of its 14 million palm trees.

Before it’s gone is an ongoing long-term project that documents life in oases with a focus on the complex and multidimensional issues of oasis degradation in Morocco and its impact on their inhabitants. Over the past few years, I have visited many oases, where I have made strong connections with their inhabitants. I was able to understand this rich environment but also its glaring realities. I realized that desertification, recurrent droughts and fires, changes in agricultural practices, overexploitation of natural resources, rural exodus, and the sharp drop in the water table are all imminent threats to the existence of oases.

I decided to work on this project to highlight these multiple concerns rarely covered by the media and largely unknown to the general public. The main objective is to draw attention to this situation by alerting public opinion, policymakers, and concerned organizations. It is also a demand to protect the ancestral intangible heritage of the nomadic culture in Morocco, as well as the preservation of the oasis ecosystem.

BIOGRAPHY

M'hammed Kilito (b. 1981, Lviv) is a documentary photographer and National Geographic Explorer based in Casablanca. His practice investigates the relationship between individuals or groups and the environment they inhabit. He is interested in capturing narratives that facilitate the comprehension of this relationship, covering topics such as cultural identity, the sociology of work, and climate change.

Kilito holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Montreal and a Master's degree in Political Science from Ottawa University. His work has garnered awards and grants, including World Press Photo Regional Prize, Louis Roederer Prize for Sustainability, National Geographic Society Explorer Grant, CAP Prize, Photography Prize of Fondation des Treilles, and Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Project Award. He has also been a finalist for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and nominated for Prix Pictet.

His photography has been showcased in various festivals and venues worldwide, including the Leica Ernst Leitz Museum (Germany), Sharjah Art Foundation (UAE), 1:54 Art Fair (France), Tate Modern (UK), PhotoESPAÑA Festival (Spain), National Museum of Photography (Morocco), Addis Foto Fest (Ethiopia), Format Festival (UK), Bosnia and Herzegovina National Museum (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Photo Vogue Festival (Italy), and Misk Art Institute (Saudi Arabia). His work has also been featured in publications such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The British Journal of Photography, Vogue Italia, L'Express, Liberation, and El Pais.

Together with three other Moroccan visual artists, Kilito co-founded KOZ, a collective dedicated to telling compelling stories through long-term projects.