IN FOCUS
When Inspiration Becomes a Museum
Fashion, Perfume, and Cinema
by Benyounes Amirouch
Majorelle Gardens, Marrakesh
In Morocco, the museum is no longer merely a repository for archaeological objects or an official space for preserving and displaying traces of the past. Increasingly, it has become a private initiative— whether individual or institutional— that celebrates the memory of a craft, the life and work of a creator, or a living artistic practice. Over the past two decades, specialized museums have emerged, taking visitors from fashion to perfume and from perfume to the behind-the-scenes world of cinema. What connects them is a common thread: Morocco as a source of inspiration— its light, colors, plants, and landscapes— which have captivated artists, designers, and filmmakers worldwide.
Majorelle Gardens, Marrakesh
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This journey takes us to three such spaces: the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Perfume Museum in Marrakech, and the Cinema Museum in Ouarzazate.
Marrakech Through the Eyes of Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent’ s work became closely associated with Marrakech in 1966, the year of his first visit. The city opened his eyes to an urban landscape that invited leisurely exploration and repeated stays. He bought a house there, where he sketched designs for his new collections each year.
As French writer and journalist Laurence Benaïm writes:“ The mountains of the Ourika and the mosaics adorning the minarets