Dans les bras de la terre — MACAAL, Marrakech

Salima Naji · Architectural installation

Dans les bras de la terre (In the Arms of the Earth) is Salima Naji’s site-specific architectural installation in MACAAL’s central nave in Marrakech. The museum dates the work to 2024 and connects its earthen construction to craft knowledge, collective work, and the idea of a welcoming house.

By Artists Village. Published 2026-10-20; sources reviewed 2026-10-20. Source-based guide, not a field visit.

What is the installation?

This work occupies architectural space rather than simply hanging on a wall. MACAAL describes it as a hybrid architectural object and a house that welcomes visitors before they enter the museum’s other rooms. Its location in the central nave matters: encountering the installation is also a way of encountering the building around it.

The English translation, In the Arms of the Earth, helps explain the museum’s interpretation. Earth refers both to a construction material and to a place of origin. The official account connects the work to Mother Earth, belonging, and the cycle of coming from and returning to the ground. That is the museum’s interpretation, rather than a claim that every visitor must read it in the same way.

Why do craft and collaboration matter here?

Naji is identified by MACAAL as an architect and anthropologist whose experience includes preserving and transmitting earthen building practices. The installation was made with collaborators and craftspeople from that wider practice. The museum emphasizes shared construction knowledge, not just the appearance of the finished object.

The source also places Naji’s work in the context of rebuilding villages and a school after the 2023 earthquake in the Marrakech region. This does not make the installation a reconstruction of one of those buildings. It provides context for her interest in construction methods, community life, and the environmental consequences of building.

What should I look for?

Our suggested approach is to begin with the relationship between the installation and the nave. Notice how a constructed enclosure changes the scale of the space around it, then look at surfaces and transitions rather than treating it as a freestanding sculpture. Compare the idea of shelter with the public setting of a museum.

Use the official installation page for photographs and the behind-the-scenes film. These help explain the making process without implying that the work can be touched or entered in any particular way. Follow the museum’s on-site instructions; the source does not provide a blanket permission to interact physically with the installation.

MACAAL visit information

Official practical information checked 2026-10-20. Rates and schedules can change; confirm with the museum.

Address: Al Maaden, Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
Opening schedule: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00. The museum lists Ramadan hours of 10:00–15:30; confirm the applicable schedule before visiting.

Published admission rates
Visitor category	Rate
Adults	120 MAD
African residents or nationals	60 MAD; proof required
Children under 12	Free; proof required
Students	Free; proof required
Adult groups of more than 10	110 MAD per person

The venue states that admission includes the museum, its exhibitions, and Al Maaden Sculpture Park. School groups should enquire directly; guided tours require advance booking.

MACAAL states that the museum is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. Contact the museum about specific requirements, including viewing installations along the staircase.

The museum advises allowing 10–20 minutes for a taxi to arrive at MACAAL and says reception can arrange one. This is a collection wait, not a journey-time estimate from the city centre.

Source: MACAAL practical information

Questions about Dans les bras de la terre

Where is Dans les bras de la terre?

MACAAL identifies its location as the museum’s central nave in Al Maaden, Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, Marrakech. Our map pin marks the museum rather than an exact indoor position.

Is this an outdoor street-art stop?

No. It is a site-specific work inside MACAAL, so museum admission and opening hours apply.

Is there a confirmed closing date?

The official installation page reviewed on 20 October 2026 did not specify an end date. That does not establish a permanent display; confirm current availability with MACAAL.

Sources and images

The linked primary sources contain photographs and further context. Images are not reproduced here; their copyright is separate from the facts summarized in this guide.

How Artists Village reviews sources

Plan the rest of your visit

MACAAL visiting guide · Marrakech city guide · Marrakech art map