Orientalist by Serge Anton
Serge Anton has been part of our brand’s advertising campaigns, engaging with talent for a longtime now.
We share a love for Africa and Morocco. It was during a trip, inspired by a chance conversation, that the idea came up. Corinne Bensahel, artistic director of Baobab Collection, fell in love with a photograph of Marrakech shot by Serge Anton and asked him if we could transpose it onto glass.
The test surpassed all of our expectations, and it was then that this collection of scented candles and home diffusers began to take shape, combining archival photos of Essaouira with new shots of the Koutoubia or the kasbahs of Skoura. All images are signed by Serge Anton in the spirit of orientalist paintings, a masterful result that delights the soul. We called it Orientalist by Serge Anton.
A portion of the sales of these candles and diffusers will support Actions@Village and the reconstruction of schools and sanitary blocks in the devastated villages of the Atlas.
Standing tall in the Marrakech sky, the Koutoubia is a jewel of Almohad architecture dating back to the 12th century. A center of prayer, the Koutoubia overlooks a vibrant medina surrounded by its city walls and palm trees. On the horizon and beyond this monument, a symbol of Marrakech, are the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains
The coastal town of Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, is an outstanding example of a fortified city dating back to the mid-18th century. As an international trading port, Essaouira was used by many traders from Africa. The camel caravans unloaded their precious cargo, which was then transported by sea to Europe and the Americas. A multicultural and multi-faith trading center, Essaouira remains a place steeped in history and a must-visit.
A tribute to the largest palm grove in southern Morocco, Skoura, stretching over 27 kilometers of trails where palm trees, douars and kasbahs punctuate this magical and majestic territory. Many of the kasbahs have been abandoned and stand like historical monuments, where we can imagine the power of the lords who lived there, but also the passage of caravans laden with spices and other marvels. The kasbah immortalized by Serge Anton almost becomes like a medieval castle, and the photographer’s artistic work is expressed with a finish similar to aged gray paper.