DORIGIN

DORIGIN is a sculpture/installation inspired by the industrial and commercial relationships and the informal economy that connect Africa to Europe. The Mercedes W123-240D, entirely reconstructed in Morocco, is assembled from hundreds of spare parts collected from all over the country. The colours of the bodywork reflect the provenance of each element: pistachio green for Meknes, ochre for Ouarzazate, white for Casablanca, etc.The title DORIGIN changes in meaning depending on the location of the car: in Morocco it refers to an original product manufactured abroad; while in Europe, the title refers to a vehicle entirely manufactured in and originating from Morocco.

The work was created for an exhibition at the Frankfurter Kunstverein [Frankfurt Art Association]. Eric Van Hove drove it from Marrakesh to Frankfurt, along a route decided on one day at a time together with his “co-pilot”, the librarian Juan Asis Palao Gómez, who remained in Marrakesh. This roadmap can be consulted inside the car. During the journey, the Moroccan director Meriem Abid shot the video that the artist describes as "psychogeographic".