Women, peace, and regional inter-cooperation between Morocco and Middle Eastern countries are all celebrated in the digital art.
Chama Mechtaly, a Moroccan artist, entrepreneur, and activist, chose to commemorate International Women’s Day with an NFT, or blockchain-based digital art dedicated to women.
According to a press release, the NFT was launched at the Israeli Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 as a celebration of women and the newfound friendly relations between Arab countries and Israel as a result of the Abraham accords.
The UAE-based artist, who has long advocated for pluralism, inclusivity, and minorities, represented Morocco at the Israeli Pavilion.
The Israeli Pavilion is a component of Dubai Expo 2020, an exhibition that aims to illustrate what “the future looks like.”
“Art has always been a catalyst for change and a constructive approach to peace-building so when coupled with technology, change, and social impact can be accelerated,” Mechtaly said when presenting her art at the Expo.
The Gulf-Israel Businesses Council and the Israeli Ministry of Regional Cooperation are co-sponsoring the event, which has a significant diplomatic overtone.
Former Moroccan Ambassador Yitzhak Eldan, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan Nachum, Senior Rabbi of the United Arab Emirates Rabbi Elie Abadie, and Israeli Ambassador to the UAE Amir Hayek were among those who attended the ceremony.
The Moroccan artist co-curated a calligraphy art exhibition honoring Arabic, Tifinagh (Amazigh writing system), and Hebrew calligraphy last year in Jerusalem.
Morocco signed a US-brokered agreement with Israel to re-establish diplomatic relations one year ago with the goal of fostering regional cooperation and resolving the long-running Arab-Israeli conflict.
Morocco is home to the largest Jewish community in North Africa, and the country is proud of its ancient Jewish heritage. The Moroccan constitution of 2011 recognizes Hebrew as a national language and emphasizes Morocco’s Hebrew identity.
Morocco has made significant efforts in recent months to conserve and promote its Jewish past, including fostering Jewish heritage scholarship and actively funding the restoration of various Jewish graves and historical sites throughout the North African country.