Mohammad Ait Belabbes
Plaster and stucco worker
Marrakech, Morocco
Sculpted shadows in Moroccan plaster
- Mohammed specialises in plaster and gypsum carving
- His signature undercut technique gives depth to his ornamentation
- He aims to highlight plasterwork as a living tradition
Mohammed Ait Belabbes learned plasterwork the traditional way, through years of apprenticing under master artisans. He knew he had found his calling the moment he carved a complete motif and watched light begin to move across its surface for the first time. “I have been practising my craft since 1974, and I still consider myself a student of the material,” he says. Mohammed’s work comprises both centuries-old Moroccan motifs and contemporary commissions. His signature technique, the undercut, is almost invisible: a sculpted shadow beneath the surface that gives a motif its depth. Today, Mohammed shares his knowledge with his apprentices, emphasising one instruction above all. “Gypsum tolerates no hesitation: it sets fast, resists force and yields only to those willing to listen," he says. “The plaster will tell you when it is ready."
INTERVIEW
Gypsum demands absolute presence. It sets quickly, so there is no time for hesitation. The material is brittle, which requires every cut to be deliberate. Unlike wood or stone, it cannot be forced. It teaches patience, precision and humility.
It is difficult to master the undercut, where the shadow is created beneath a carved surface. It is invisible from the front, yet it gives the motif its depth. It takes years of feel and control to learn how to cleanly carve the element without breaking the thin edge that sits above it.
I see myself as a guardian of a living tradition. Practising a craft means preserving its history while reshaping it to ensure it remains relevant. I do not believe tradition is static: I think of it as a river we must keep flowing.
People are surprised to see that the motifs in palaces and mosques can feel fresh and contemporary in a modern context. Plaster is not a relic, it is a living medium, and I am proud to convey that through my work.
Mohammad Ait Belabbes
Plaster and stucco worker
Marrakech, Morocco
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Marrakech, Morocco
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+212 611641687
LANGUAGES
Arabic, English
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