Montassir Bentahar proved That The Soul Has Many Shapes
To see the world through the eyes of Montassir Bentahar — known creatively as Michael Angelo — is to witness how art can transform silence into speech, solitude into connection, and the body into a vessel for truth. A Moroccan visual artist and student at Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, Montassir doesn’t limit himself to one form of expression. His work is an unfolding — a continuous act of becoming, reflecting, and rebuilding.
A creator of many mediums, Montassir’s world includes drawing, sculpture, photography, fashion design, theater, digital editing, and documentary filmmaking. He is not simply a student of art — he is a student of humanity. His creative direction is deeply rooted in observing and unraveling the complex layers of the human self: soul, body, memory, and identity.
“What inspires me most,” he shares, “is the contemplation of the human being — the soul, the body, the identity, and the story.”
His journey began with tactile materials and raw surfaces — sketching faces, shaping clay, experimenting with visuals. But soon, the need to document emotion in motion — to catch glimpses of people’s truths — led him to the lens and the stage. He began directing and filming emotionally resonant scenes, designing concepts that were not only visual but experiential.
His signature project, a documentary titled “Journey”, marks a significant milestone in his artistic growth.
Co-created with a close friend, the film explores how an artist lives between internal stillness and the noise of the external world. It reflects a duality many creatives share — a longing for peace, yet a duty to engage and reflect the reality we all inhabit. It’s a film that asks: Can I live in solitude and still belong to the collective? Can art reconcile both worlds?
Montassir’s work is modern in aesthetic, but deeply spiritual in feeling. His style is precise, thoughtful, and often infused with quiet intensity. Details are everything — not to overwhelm, but to focus. A single shadow, a held breath, the soft texture of light — these are not background; they are the core of the narrative.
There is something unmistakably sacred in the way he views the creative process — almost as a form of prayer. Whether it’s through dance fused with painting, sculpture blended with film, or live performance with layered editing, his work doesn’t demand attention — it earns it. His visual language speaks softly, yet resonates deeply.
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Montassir is also deeply committed to the idea of collaboration — not just as co-creation, but as co-existence. In his words, “Collaboration uncovers hidden talent — the kind buried under shyness or silence. It gives expression a home.” He sees it as a chance to connect stories, to bring out voices that might otherwise remain unheard.
Looking ahead, his dreams are expansive. He imagines creating with global artists, fashion houses, film production companies, and cultural institutions that dare to reimagine what art can be. But even within those dreams, his vision stays clear: Don’t pick one lane when the road is wide. He doesn’t limit himself to one genre, because he believes in the fluidity of identity, and in the idea that all forms of creativity are part of the same story.
Montassir doesn’t believe in labels. His work isn’t designed to be interpreted in one way — instead, he invites the audience to find their own meaning, to see themselves in what he creates. Whether through a photograph, a movement, or a sound, he believes every piece holds space for personal reflection. His approach is emotional, intuitive, and personal — and yet, somehow, universally resonant.
He tells us:
“Just take the first step — and let the art flow freely.”
That’s the ethos behind his practice — an open invitation to co-create, to feel deeply, and to let the soul speak without fear.
In a world often overwhelmed by noise, Montassir Bentahar brings us back to essence. He reminds us that creativity isn’t performance — it’s truth. It’s not always loud — but when it’s real, it echoes.
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