Biography nja mahdaoui art
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Nja Mahdaoui, born in 1937 in Tunis, is a prominent figure in Tunisia’s art scene, currently residing and working in his home country. His artistic journey began with formal education, culminating in his graduation from the Academy of Arts of Santa Andrea in Rome and the Ecole du Louvre, specializing in Oriental Antiquities. Furthering his studies, he spent time in Paris at the Cite Internationale des Arts, courtesy of a scholarship from the Tunisian Government.
Renowned as one of Tunisia’s foremost artists and a significant figure in contemporary Arab art, Nja Mahdaoui identifies himself as a ‘signs explorer.’ His work, often described as a ‘choreography of letters,’ draws inspiration from Arabic calligraphy, showcasing remarkable innovation. Through the aesthetic manipulation of letters, Mahdaoui creates highly rhythmic and poetically charged abstract compositions. His meticulous ink work on parchment, known for its visual impact, transcends te
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Famous for his meticulous work in ink on parchment, he is considered ‘an explorer of signs’ and a ‘choreographer of letters’. Nja Mahdaoui creates rhythmic abstract compositions inspired by Arabic calligraphy. Born in 1937 in Tunisia, Nja Mahdaoui graduated from the Academia Santa Andrea in Rome and the École du Louvre in Paris , where he also pursued further training at the Cité Internationale des Arts. His works have been widely shown around the world in GCC, Asia, America, Africa and Europe. He has illustrated legendary or sacred texts, including tales from the collection of “One Thousand and One Nights” in an outstanding publication in French. In 2018, Elmarsa Gallery in Tunis presented a retrospective exhibition of his works from 1966 to 2018. His work has been presented in international art fairs in Basel, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Marrakech and Miami. He has been the Jury member and Honor guest of many international events and
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Described as a 'choreographer of letters', Nja Mahdaoui's work comprises paintings, prints, tapestries, book covers and illustrations. He works with a variety of media including parchment, papyrus, wood, aluminium, brass, melamine and linen, and derives inspiration from aspects of local culture such as Tunisian textile design. He is also a performance artist. In 2000, he was selected by Gulf Air to design the external decoration of its fleet for the airline's fiftieth anniversary. He lives and works in Tunisia.
Mahdaoui has participated in solo and group exhibitions worldwide and his work can be funnen in private and public international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, Tunis; Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad; British Museum, London; Smithsonian Museum, Washington, DC; Bibliothéque Nationale and Institut ni Monde Arabe, Paris; National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh; Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; and Jeddah and Riyadh's international airport