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{{Short description|Moroccan painter (1928-1985)}}
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'''Ahmed Yacoubi''' (1928–1985) was a Moroccan painter, chef and story-teller. He was born in ], ] in 1928.
{{Infobox person
⚫ | name = Ahmed Yacoubi
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1928}}
| birth_place = ], ]
| death_date = December 25, {{death year and age|1985|1928}}
| known_for = Painter, playwright, author, storyteller.
⚫ | birth_name = Ahmed ben Driss El Yacoubi
⚫ }}
'''Ahmed ben Driss el Yacoubi''' (1928–1985) was a Moroccan ], playwright, author, and ]. He was born in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ahmed Yacoubi |url=https://www.francis-bacon.com/content/ahmed-yacoubi |website=Francis Bacon |accessdate=June 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ahmed Yacoubi: The Occidental Tourist |url=https://brooklynrail.org/2017/04/verbatim/Occidental-Tourist |website=Brooklyn Rail |accessdate=June 14, 2020 |date=April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowles |first1=Paul |title=Ahmed Yacoubi as Painter |url=http://www.paulbowles.org/yacoubipainter.html |website=Paul Bowles |accessdate=June 14, 2020}}</ref>


== Career ==
A Moroccan art scholar describes Yacoubi as "the best cultural ambassador Morocco ever had".
⚫ Yacoubi met the American composer and writer ] in Fez in 1947, and later in Tangier. Yacoubi then began doing translations for Bowles. Bowles and his wife, novelist and playwright ], encouraged Yacoubi to draw and paint the characters in his own stories after seeing Yacoubi's illustrations of his translations.


Bowles was interested in recording music from different cultures, and invited Yacoubi to translate for him in Spain, Italy, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. Bowles then transcribed Yacoubi's own stories from ] into English: "The Man and The Woman" (1956), "The Man Who Dreamed of Fish Eating Fish" (1956), and "The Game" (1961). Yacoubi's play ''The Night Before Thinking'' was published in the '']'' in 1961. In 1964, the play was produced by ] at their ] theater and at ]'s ] in ].<ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. </ref><ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. </ref> Yacoubi also contributed to set design and construction for productions at La MaMa during the 1970s, including '']'' and ]'s '']'', directed by ] in 1970,<ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. </ref> and ]'s ''Jilsa,'' directed by in 1974.<ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. </ref>
⚫ ], the American composer and writer, met Ahmed ben Driss el Yacoubi in 1947 in Fez and later in Tangier. Bowles and his wife ] encouraged him to draw and paint the characters of his tales after seeing how well Yacoubi illustrated his translations for them.


⚫ The Bowles arranged for Yacoubi's first exhibition of visual work at the ] bookshop on Boulevard Pasteur in ]. The exhibition was highly acclaimed, and 28 pieces were sold. Later exhibitions were held at the Galerie Clan in ], the ] in ] in 1952, the ] in ] in 1957, and elsewhere throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. A wide range of notable collectors began acquiring his drawings and paintings, recognizing his talent and artistic integrity. The ] in New York, the ], and the ] also purchased his works.
Focused on recording different cultures' music for record labels in various countries, Paul Bowles invited Ahmed to continue to translate for him in ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] and then transcribed Yacoubi's own stories from ''Maghrebi'' (]) into English: "The Man and The Woman" (1956), "The Man Who Dreamed of Fish Eating Fish" (1956) and "The Game" (1961), and a play "The Night Before Thinking" which was published in the ''Evergreen Review'' in 1961 and later produced at The White Barn Theater in Westport, Connecticut.


⚫ In 1952, Bowles invited Yacoubi to his island, ], off the southern coast of ]. While visiting the island, Yacoubi prepared meals for fellow guest ], which she mentions in her memoir, ''Confessions of an Art Addict'' (1997)''.'' Guggenheim purchased several of Yacoubi's drawings.
⚫ The Bowles arranged for Yacoubi's first exhibition of drawings at the Gallimard Agency bookshop on the Boulevard Pasteur in ]. His art was highly acclaimed and 28 works were sold. Further exhibitions were held at the Galerie Clan in ], the ] in ]in 1952, and then throughout the world. A wide range of notable collectors began acquiring his unusual and unselfconscious drawings and paintings, recognizing his level of rare talent and integrity.


Ahmed Yacoubi evolved from what was described as a primitive style to a sophisticated secret technique of layering in oil glazes that produced canvases of great depth and complexity. Although Yacoubi had already begun painting in oil, ] further encouraged his work by painting four small canvases blue and telling him to "Paint!" according to an anecdote by ]. Bacon and Yacoubi painted together and remained friends for the duration of their lives.
⚫ In 1952 Paul Bowles invited Yacoubi to his island, ], off the southern coast of ] where Yacoubi prepared memorable meals for their guest ] (mentioned in her book ''Confessions of an Art Addict'') and where she purchased several of his drawings.


In 1966, Yacoubi moved to the ] and continued to work prolifically, exhibit, and travel. He met and hosted a diversity of international artists, writers, art collectors, and politicians. In New York City, he befriended Peggy Hitchcock and her husband, ], founder of Omen Press. Yacoubi collaborated with friends at the couple's ranch in ] and, through this collaboration, published his cookbook, ''The Alchemist's Cookbook''.
Although Ahmed had begun painting in oil, upon meeting in Tangier, ] catalyzed him further by, according to Allen Ginsberg, painting four small canvases blue and telling him to 'Paint'! The two collaborated and painted together, remaining friends for the duration of their lives.


] curated a Yacoubi retrospective at ] in 1989, after his death in 1985. The retrospective included a production of ''The Night Before Thinking'' and an exhibition at La MaMa's nonprofit gallery space, La Galleria, at 47 Great Jones Street.<ref>La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. </ref>
Further exhibitions followed in 1957 at the ] in London and worldwide throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, receiving serious acclaim with his paintings being bought by collectors including the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, La Musee de l'Art Moderne in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paolo, Brazil.


== Personal life ==
Yacoubi lived and travelled with an American writer named Ruth Marthen and in 1965 in Tangier had a daughter Karima Yacoubi. Yacoubi continued to exhibit in Tangier, London, New York, Cleveland, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Paris, and Rome.
Yacoubi lived and travelled with an American writer named Ruth Marthen. In 1959, she gave birth to a daughter, Karima Yacoubi, in ]. Karima died of respiratory problems in London in 2004 at the age of 44. In New York City, ] found Yacoubi a home and studio on ], where he met the artist Carol Cannon in 1976. They lived and painted together for seven years, and continued as friends and collaborators after the relationship ended.


Yacoubi died of lung cancer on December 25, 1985, at the age of 57.
Ahmed Yacoubi evolved what was originally described as a "primitive" style to a highly complex, sophisticated and secret technique of layering in oil glazes that produced canvases of mesmerizing depth and complexity.


== References ==
In 1966 Yacoubi moved to the ] and continued to work prolifically, exhibit and travel, meeting and being host to diverse and international artists, writers, collectors, politicians and connoisseurs.
<references />

Befriending Peggy Hitchcock and her husband ], owner and publisher of Omen Press, Yacoubi collaborated with friends at their ranch in ] and eventually published his first cookbook, "The Alchemist's Cookbook". Returning to New York, thanks to the support of Ellen Stewart (La Mama of the Off Off Broadway theatrical world), Yacoubi lived and painted on Great Jones Street in the East Village where he met the artist Carol Cannon in 1976. They lived and painted together for seven years, parting as friends and still collaborating on exhibits and projects such as the screenplay of his play "The Night Before Thinking". Three years later, Yacoubi received news of the robbery of his paintings and Moroccan antiques from his studio in Tangier simultaneous to his being diagnosed with lung cancer. He died on December 25, 1985, at the age of 57.

His heir, daughter Karima, died suddenly of respiratory problems in London in 2004 at the age of 44.

==See also==
*]


==External links== ==External links==
*[http://www.ahmedyacoubi.info *
* *
* *
*


{{Authority control|VIAF=80246317}} {{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
⚫ | NAME = Yacoubi, Ahmed
⚫ | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Ahmed Ben Driss El Yacoubi
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Moroccan painter, fine chef and storyteller
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1928
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Fez, Morocco
| DATE OF DEATH = 1985
| PLACE OF DEATH = New York
⚫ }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yacoubi, Ahmed}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Yacoubi, Ahmed}}
⚫ ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]

Latest revision as of 13:10, 14 February 2024

Moroccan painter (1928-1985)
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Ahmed Yacoubi
BornAhmed ben Driss El Yacoubi
1928 (1928)
Fez, Morocco
DiedDecember 25, 1985 (aged 56–57)
Known forPainter, playwright, author, storyteller.

Ahmed ben Driss el Yacoubi (1928–1985) was a Moroccan painter, playwright, author, and storyteller. He was born in Fez, Morocco.

Career

Yacoubi met the American composer and writer Paul Bowles in Fez in 1947, and later in Tangier. Yacoubi then began doing translations for Bowles. Bowles and his wife, novelist and playwright Jane Bowles, encouraged Yacoubi to draw and paint the characters in his own stories after seeing Yacoubi's illustrations of his translations.

Bowles was interested in recording music from different cultures, and invited Yacoubi to translate for him in Spain, Italy, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. Bowles then transcribed Yacoubi's own stories from Maghrebi into English: "The Man and The Woman" (1956), "The Man Who Dreamed of Fish Eating Fish" (1956), and "The Game" (1961). Yacoubi's play The Night Before Thinking was published in the Evergreen Review in 1961. In 1964, the play was produced by La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club at their East Village theater and at Lucille Lortel's White Barn Theater in Westport, Connecticut. Yacoubi also contributed to set design and construction for productions at La MaMa during the 1970s, including Arden of Faversham and Alfred Jarry's Ubu, directed by Andrei Serban in 1970, and Oh Taeseok's Jilsa, directed by Duk-Hyung Yoo in 1974.

The Bowles arranged for Yacoubi's first exhibition of visual work at the Gallimard bookshop on Boulevard Pasteur in Tangier. The exhibition was highly acclaimed, and 28 pieces were sold. Later exhibitions were held at the Galerie Clan in Madrid, the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York in 1952, the Hanover Gallery in London in 1957, and elsewhere throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. A wide range of notable collectors began acquiring his drawings and paintings, recognizing his talent and artistic integrity. The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and the Sao Paolo Museum of Modern Art also purchased his works.

In 1952, Bowles invited Yacoubi to his island, Taprobane, off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. While visiting the island, Yacoubi prepared meals for fellow guest Peggy Guggenheim, which she mentions in her memoir, Confessions of an Art Addict (1997). Guggenheim purchased several of Yacoubi's drawings.

Ahmed Yacoubi evolved from what was described as a primitive style to a sophisticated secret technique of layering in oil glazes that produced canvases of great depth and complexity. Although Yacoubi had already begun painting in oil, Francis Bacon further encouraged his work by painting four small canvases blue and telling him to "Paint!" according to an anecdote by Allen Ginsberg. Bacon and Yacoubi painted together and remained friends for the duration of their lives.

In 1966, Yacoubi moved to the United States and continued to work prolifically, exhibit, and travel. He met and hosted a diversity of international artists, writers, art collectors, and politicians. In New York City, he befriended Peggy Hitchcock and her husband, Walter Bowart, founder of Omen Press. Yacoubi collaborated with friends at the couple's ranch in Tucson and, through this collaboration, published his cookbook, The Alchemist's Cookbook.

Ellen Stewart curated a Yacoubi retrospective at La MaMa in 1989, after his death in 1985. The retrospective included a production of The Night Before Thinking and an exhibition at La MaMa's nonprofit gallery space, La Galleria, at 47 Great Jones Street.

Personal life

Yacoubi lived and travelled with an American writer named Ruth Marthen. In 1959, she gave birth to a daughter, Karima Yacoubi, in Tangier. Karima died of respiratory problems in London in 2004 at the age of 44. In New York City, Ellen Stewart found Yacoubi a home and studio on Great Jones Street, where he met the artist Carol Cannon in 1976. They lived and painted together for seven years, and continued as friends and collaborators after the relationship ended.

Yacoubi died of lung cancer on December 25, 1985, at the age of 57.

References

  1. "Ahmed Yacoubi". Francis Bacon. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  2. "Ahmed Yacoubi: The Occidental Tourist". Brooklyn Rail. April 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  3. Bowles, Paul. "Ahmed Yacoubi as Painter". Paul Bowles. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  4. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: The Night Before Thinking (1974a)". Accessed April 9, 2018.
  5. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: The Night Before Thinking (1974b)". Accessed April 9, 2018.
  6. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Ubu and Arden of Faversham (1970)". Accessed April 9, 2018.
  7. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Jilsa (1974)". Accessed April 9, 2018.
  8. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Special Event: 'Ahmed Yacoubi: A Retrospective' (1989)". Accessed April 9, 2018.

External links

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