On the occasion of the 15th edition of the Festival de l'histoire de l'art from June 5 to 7, 2026, the Kingdom of Morocco and its artists are in the spotlight. From now until June 8, the Pays de Fontainebleau Tourist Office invites you to discover the work of Moroccan photographer M'hammed Kilito.

Photographer, National Geographic explorer and visual artist based in Marrakech, M'hammed Kilito is one of the photographers of the VII Foundation and is represented internationally by Gowen Gallery (Geneva), Loft Art Gallery (Casablanca, Marrakech) and Qanazea Gallery (Abu Dhabi). His practice explores the complex relationships that individuals and communities construct with their environments, whether anchored in places of belonging, shaped by memory, or defined by movement and transition. Through his work, Kilito examines narratives that address cultural identity, the sociology of work, and the pressing realities of climate change, creating bodies of work that resonate in both local and global contexts.

Kilito holds a B.A. in Political Science from the Université de Montréal and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Ottawa. His photography has been recognized by numerous awards and grants from institutions such as the World Press Photo Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Magnum Foundation and the Prince Claus Fund. His work has been published in international media, including The Washington Post, Le M Magazine, El Pais, Aperture, The Guardian, National Geographic Magazine and The British Journal of Photography, and has been exhibited worldwide. He is also co-founder of KOZ, a collective created with three other Moroccan visual artists, dedicated to the development of in-depth, long-term narrative projects.

Project and exhibition presentation

The Before it's gone series is part of a documentary approach dedicated to Moroccan oases, seen as fragile socio-ecological environments and cultural landscapes in the process of transformation. By adopting an approach that is both sensitive and analytical, Kilito does not limit himself to depicting an endangered environment. He

proposes a visual reading of human interactions, natural resources, lifestyles and cultural transmissions. His project reveals the effects of climate change, rural exodus and increased exploitation of oasis resources, while highlighting the adaptation strategies implemented by local populations, researchers and associations. Before it's gone is an invitation to discover the poetry of these rural Moroccan landscapes, revealing the beauty of the oases.

Located in arid and semi-arid zones, oases are unique ecosystems, based on an essential balance between abundant water, soil quality and the presence of the date palm. The date palm plays a fundamental role in creating a humid microclimate, protecting crops from the wind and encouraging the development of diverse vegetation.

In Morocco, these areas have long represented ecological bulwarks against desertification and refuges for biodiversity. Today, however, this balance is profoundly altered. Over the last few decades, the combined effects of climate change and human activity have made these environments more fragile. Rising temperatures, dwindling water resources and more frequent droughts are having a direct impact on farming systems and living conditions. In the space of a century, Morocco has lost a considerable proportion of its palm trees, revealing the scale of the transformations underway and the growing vulnerability of these areas.