In Morocco's arid regions, traditional life coexists with gradual change. Water pits sustain palm groves, and their timeless wisdom prevails. Watermelon farming introduced modern irrigation, but challenges emerged. Farmers grappled with technology maintenance and strained resources.
Ironically, eco-friendly efforts disrupted the ecosystem. The shift to modern technology amplified drought impacts on palm trees. The introduction of solar panels and gas engines made water extraction more efficient but less accessible during droughts, creating a vicious cycle.
Today, to protect the oasis and traditional life, watermelon cultivation is controlled. This serves as a valuable lesson in adapting to preserve tradition while embracing change and learning from past errors to coexist sustainably with nature.
Zakaria Wakrim, born in 1988, operates from Spain and Morocco. Initially experimenting with photography's boundaries, he evolved into an "Emerging Artist" in his homeland. Wakrim's work delves deep into Change and Identity, weaving narratives in his visual stories. He considers photographic language as organic. His series explore the rapid changes in North Africa, blurring old and new, emphasizing the importance of documenting change for understanding and preserving cultural identity.