The argan oil cooperative

Their hands work in a steady, repetitive rhythm. The fingers are precise, moving with practiced efficiency. A stone and a small block of wood are used repeatedly, in the same sequence, over and over. There is little conversation. The room is quiet, and their attention remains on the work in front of them.

They are dressed in traditional clothing, their faces show concentration. There is also a sense of determination, and perhaps pride, although it is difficult to know what lies behind their expressions. For long periods, they seem almost unaware of the people around them, absorbed in the movements of their work.

Saad, at his sewing machine station, is watching. From his position nearby, he appears almost detached from what is happening around him. His expression is quiet, his posture relaxed. But his eyes move slowly across the room. He observes the women, the visitors, and the occasional exchange between them. Unlike the tourists, he does not need to move closer to see what is happening. He seems to know the room well enough to notice small changes without appearing to do so.

We have come here to look at the work and at the people doing it. But we are also part of what is being observed. The women may appear absorbed in their work, yet they are not entirely separate from the visitors around them. Saad’s quiet attention makes that relationship visible.

A small social world is unfolding in this clean, well-lit and unusually quiet room. The work follows a familiar rhythm, interrupted only occasionally by conversation or laughter. One of the women appears to tell a joke. She is animated for a moment, while the other two remain focused on their work. They smile, but do not otherwise join the exchange.

The result is a subtle exchange of attention. The visitors are there to observe, but their presence becomes part of the scene they are observing. The women continue working within it, seemingly accustomed to the presence of outsiders. Nothing needs to be said. Everyone simply occupies a position within the room: some working, some watching, some doing both.

What initially appears to be a simple scene of people at work therefore becomes more complex. It is not a question of who is watching whom, but of how easily the roles overlap. The observer becomes part of the observed scene, while those being observed remain aware, to varying degrees, of the people around them.

One of the women tells a joke. She looks more animated for a moment. The other two smile but continue working. The visitors watch the exchange. Saad watches the visitors watching the women.

The cooperative is a workplace, but for the visitors it is also a place of observation. Their presence brings another layer to the room, just as their purchases bring another source of income. The women continue their work within this arrangement, maintaining their rhythm while the people around them look, listen, and move through the space. For a few minutes, the room becomes a small theatre of observation. Everyone is looking at someone, and no one is entirely outside the scene.