POELP
TRABENDO
With Oussama Tabti, Mouhcine Rahaoui
Curated by Laurent Courtens, Sabine Sil
24/04/26 – 31/05/26
Laurent Courtens and sabine sil join forces as co-curators to invite artists Oussama Tabti and Mouhcine Rahaoui, whose practices converge in a sensitive exploration of human geographies and the fractures they reveal.
Derived from the Spanish contrabando (“smuggling”), the term TRABENDO is mainly used in western Algeria. It refers to the informal economy and the discreet flows that cut across both markets and contemporary borders. Between survival strategies, parallel networks, and the movement of goods and narratives, these practices expose often overlooked realities.
Through their research, Oussama Tabti and Mouhcine Rahaoui examine the connections between labor, memory, and the circulation of objects and stories. Their works highlight situated experiences — at the crossroads of industrial legacies, migration, and social change — while opening a space for reflection on what is transmitted, transformed, or lost at the margins of official narratives.
