Moroccan association creating world's largest painting as show of solidarity with AIDS sufferers

21/04/2006

The Association Marocaine des Jeunes Contre le SIDA (AMJCS) is creating the world's largest painting, with the participation of 26 professional artists from Morocco and abroad. Work on the painting will begin 29 April in Nevada Square, Casablanca.

By Lahcen Moqnia for Magharebia, in Casablanca -- 21/04/06

[File] Oussayh

Once completed, the painting will embark on a worldwide tour; first in a series of Moroccan cities and several world capitals, before reaching Canada for the International AIDS Conference in Toronto this August.

"We wanted our participation in the Toronto conference to be special and to influence the conference recommendations for the benefit of young people in Africa and the Third World. Therefore, we chose the means of artistic expression to communicate our message to the world. This painting is a message from Moroccan youth, on behalf of young people in Africa and the Third World, to governments and countries of the world and international bodies and organisations, inviting them to double their support and aid to African communities and poor countries to enable them to provide free treatment to sufferers and promote education and awareness to protect their young people, in order to curb the spread of this disease," AMJCS President Abdessamad Oussayh, told Magharebia.

The canvas will be made up of 56 120x150cm sections to form a total area of 250 square meters. The painting will be started on the morning of 29 April in Nevada Square, Casablanca, in the presence of representatives from accredited Moroccan diplomatic bodies, civil society associations, companies, and organisations supporting projects and various activities involved in fighting AIDS in Morocco.

Throughout the morning, children and young people will be given the opportunity to paint the canvas in order to leave their mark and express themselves. During the second half of the day, professional artists will work on the canvas. The graphic theme of the painting will be agreed to during a prior meeting to ensure the closest degree of harmony and unity in their work, as well as producing a painting of high artistic value.