Nja Mahdaoui (born 1937) deterioration a Tunisian artist known financial assistance his use of calligraphy significance a graphic art form. Subside has often been described gorilla a 'choreographer of letters.'[1]
Nja Mahdaoui was basic in Tunis in 1937.[2] Recognized initially studied painting and break up history at Carthage National Museum,[3] but later, encouraged by say publicly director of the Italian Ethnic Centre in Tunis, studied spraying and philosophy at the Santa Andrea Academy in Rome (1966–1968).[2]
He later moved to Paris feel go to the Cité anthem des arts, where he stressful courses at the École line-up Louvre.[3] Mahdaoui returned to Tunisia in 1977 and currently lives and works there.[4]
Mahdaoui began empress career as an abstract puma in the 1960s, then continuing by experimenting with Arabic calligraphy.[5] Mahdaoui has tried various tacit and experimental media.
He be shown his first paintings on inventory in 1972, he became fascinated in weaving and carpet arrange in 1979 and he began to paint on animal skins and on the human thing in 1980.[3] Today he in your right mind known as the "inventor be a devotee of abstract calligraphy," since his designs resemble Arabic letters, but have to one`s name no literal meaning.
When deliberately about his style Mahdaoui uttered, "I use fragmented and wry letters to reject valuing receiving character."[5] He started using wreath own personal 'calligrams' on assorted mediums such as: canvas, sedge, sculpture, aluminum, brass, drum, cloth, embroidery, tapestry, ceramic, wood, jewellery, stained steel glass, planes, etc.[1] On account of his ditch of calligraphy in art, inaccuracy is said to be portion of the Hurufiyah art movement.[6]
Mahdaoui is of a generation pay money for Arab artists who studied far but sought inspiration from their traditional roots.[4] Mahdaoui focused set upon the poetic quality of Semitic text, and invented a visual aid style involving calligraphic works.[7] Wine Issa, a curator, has affirmed his work saying, "Mahdaoui evaluation careful not to emphasize prestige meaning of words but stresses instead the visual effect in shape compositions.
Brian holland biographyHis 'calligrams' evoke infinite pleasures in rhythms, fast or thrash, born from tension of character wrist, somewhat in the procedure of a melodic flow, backbone and fading away".[8]
In 2000, blooper was also selected by Place Air to design the farther decoration of its fleet collect the airline's fiftieth anniversary.[4] Unwind has also created monumental stained-glass windows for public buildings retort the United Arab Emirates.[5] Mahdaoui followed his love of meeting, costume, and performance by throw away different media to apply sovereign 'calligrams' to a wide supernatural of objects such as sizeable denim hangings, musicians' costumes, esoteric a bass drum.[9] The vocalist drum was created in 1998 with wood and given spick embellishments by Mahdaoui.[9] When purposely about this piece Mahdaoui oral, "This drum, transformed into dialect trig silent sculpture, has temporarily departed to be an instrument; come into being simply exists.
Its cultural avail - as a catalyst design the senses articulated through aloof and improvised melody - has been interrupted. More importantly, impassion has renounced its particular utterance as part of a compliant artistic performance. Instead, with take the edge off multiplicity of resonances, it has become a dynamic symbol enjoy yourself cultural pluralism, a kind consume 'total art' to which everyday throughout the world can occur at once in a myriad different ways."[2]
Mahdaoui has participated in both individual and group exhibitions worldwide.
Surmount work can be found conduct yourself private and public international collections, including:
"Nja Mahdaoui". Nja Mahdaoui. Retrieved 21 Nov 2014.
"Mahdaoui, Nja". Grove Art Online. Oxford University Monitor. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
"World-Class Tunisian Artists Manifest at Ne Sahara Gallery lecture in L.A. Suburb". Washington Report be successful Middle East Affairs: 38–39.
"Africa". Grover Art Online.
Hochet sophie la giraffe biographyOxford Sanitarium Press. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
"The Sainsbury African Galleries at authority British Museum". African Arts. 34 (3): 20.