“Raymonde” is a multimedia installation that takes its inspiration from three LP record covers of Raymonde Abecassis. Abecassis, born 1943 in Casablanca, is a Jewish-Moroccan singer that is active in Israel since the 1970’s. Her songs were very popular among the Jewish-Moroccan public in Israel, and earned worldwide recognition. The Moroccan king Hassan II, who admired her music, invited her to perform in the Royal Palace in Rabat in 1981.

The three “Raymonde” LP records are floating in a space, projected onto faces of men striving smoke. The images that are projected in the installation are taken from the video clips of the successful band “Revivo’s Project”. The most popular songs of “Revivo’s Project” are re-interpretations of Israeli Mediterranean classics. Their video clips present the band members as they singing, drinking alcohol and smoking shishas while taking a part in a local party (“Hafla”). The soundtrack that accompanies the work is based on Darbuka drums recordings, playing in reverse.

 

Sound design: Ofer Tisser / Documentation: Aviv Shiloh.

The records were taken from the archives of Chris Silver (JewishMorroco) and Uri “Mixmonster” Wertheim.