Seif Kousmate (b. 1988, Essaouira), based in Morocco. Co-founder of KOZ collective.
Seif is a self-taught photographer who has developed a visual vocabulary that stands between documentary photography and the poetry of fine art photography.
After a career as a Project Manager in the civil engineering sector, he dedicated himself professionally to photography in 2016. Since then, he has been working on different visual projects in Africa including migration and youth. He has worked for three years on the immigration of sub-Saharans on the land border between Morocco and Europe, more specifically on Mount Gourougou where he spent several weeks in immersion. He also worked on traditional slavery in Mauritania and Rwandan Youth in 2018 and 2019. Seif has been working since 2020 on his project Waha, a multi-dimensional essay that captures the consequences of climate change and globalization on the oases ecosystem in Morocco.
A National Geographic Explorer since 2018, He was selected as a 6x6 Global Talent Program by World Press Photo in 2020 and is one of Magnum Foundation and Prince Claus' grantees. His work has been exhibited in Europe and Africa; it has also been published in international magazines and newspapers such as The York Times, Newsweek, The Guardian, El Pais among others.
2016: MoMa of New York Course «Seeing through Photographs» and beginning of my photography career.
2017: Selected to participate in the NOOR-Nikon workshop during the Bayeux-Calvados Prize Meetings and the war correspondents’ festival.
2020: National Geographic storyteller summit in Washington, DC.
Awards & Grants:
2022
-Winner of Prix de la photographie du Musée Quai Branly with «Waha».
-Nominated for the leica oskar barnack award
-Shortlisted for LOUIS ROEDERER DISCOVERY AWARD 2022.
-Selected for the Foam Talents 2022
2021
-Winner of the 6Mois Award with «Waha».
-Finalist of le Prix Levallois with «Waha».
2020
-Arab Documentary Photography Program - Magnum Foundation/Prince Claus Fund/AFAC Grant.
-6X6 Africa Global Talent by World Press Photo.
-New York Portfolio Review by the New York Times.
-Shortlisted for CAP Prize - Switzerland.
2019
-Winner of the photographic meetings Face à la Mer in Tangier.
-Shortlisted for Direct Look - Russia.
2018
-National Geographic Society grant to pursue my long-term work on migration in Africa.
-Nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass by World Press Photo.
-Nominated for the 6X6 Africa Global Talent Program by World Press Photo.
Group Exhibitions:
2023
-Waha- The Henie Onstad Triennial for Photography- Oslo, Norway.
-Waha- Deutsche Börse photography foundation - Frankfurt, Germany.
2022
-Waha- Jaou Photo Tunis, Tunisia.
-Waha- Bronx Documentary Art Center - New York, USA.
-Waha- Mishat Festival - Oslo, Norway.
-Waha- Foam Museum- Amsterdam, Nederland.
-Waha- Face à la mer- French institute of Tangier Morocco.
-Waha- More Than Your Eyes Can See, Middle East Institute Arts and Culture Center Gallery - Washington D.C, USA.
-Waha- Palmier Fatigué, Le Cube - Rabat, Morocco.
-Rwandan Youth- Rencontres de Bamako - Bamako, Mali.
-Waha- Rencontres d'Arles - Prix Découverte Louis Roederer 2022 - Arles, France.
2021
-Haratins - La friche belle de Mai - Marseille, France.
-Waha - Humburg Portfolio review - Humburg, Germany.
-Haratins- Institut du monde arabe - Tourcoing, France.
-Tempus Figus- Musée Abderrahmane Slaoui - Casablanca, Morocco.
2020
-Tempus Figus- Museum of African Contemporary Art (Macaal) - Marrakech, Morocco.
2019
-Six meters from the dreamland-The foundation of photography of Tangier -Tangier, Morocco.
-Rwandan Youth-The 20th edition of Barrobjectif - Barro, France.
-Rwandan Youth-The 3rd edition of Incadaces - Cadaces, Spain.
-Rwandan Youth-Les nuits photographique d’Essaouira- Essaouira, Morocco.
2018
-Six meters from the dreamland-The Addis Foto Fest Ethiopië Festival- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Six meters from the dreamland-Derbe 18 Marrakech Gallery - Marrakech, Morocco.
Publications:
M le magazine du Monde, The New York Times, Newsweek, L'OBS, The Guardian, El pais, NZZ, Libération, GUP magazine, Le Point, Le Vif, Jeune Afrique, La Croix, La Vie, Le Desk, The New Humanitarian...