Yoriyas

As part of its off-site programming, the Institut pour la photographie is inviting Moroccan photographer Yoriyas for an artist residency in Roubaix and the Lille metropolitan area, in collaboration with La Condition Publique. 

Born in 1984, Yassine Alaoui—also known as Yoriyas—first made a name for himself as a professional breakdancer before turning to a career in photography in 2015. He has gained international recognition and was recently named by The New York Times as one of the artists to watch. 

From performance to photography, his work explores how we inhabit and make urban and public spaces our own. He documents daily life and captures societal changes in Morocco—particularly in Casablanca, where he lives—and across Africa. His candid images stand out for their intuitive quality and a keen eye for color. Yoriyas draws on his background in choreography to offer fresh perspectives. His candid shots also demonstrate a true mastery of space and movement. His interest in mathematics and chess is evident in the balanced yet complex composition of his images, which incorporate various planes. 

Invited to offer a fresh perspective on urban space and everyday life, Yoriyas collaborated with ParKour59, an organization that promotes and provides training in performance-based practices rooted in the city. The photographs produced for this project are on display at the Institut pour la photographie and at La Condition publique starting October 24. 

↘︎ Production: Institut pour la photographie

↘︎ In partnership with: La Condition Publique and ParKour59

↘︎ This project is supported by the Lille European Metropolis