RACHID KORAICHI

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Rachid Koraichi’s works evoke a scenography saturated by signs and writings: Arabic and Berber (Tifinagh) characters, magical or talismanic numbers – he favours the “magical” number seven – and imaginary Chinese and Japanese ideograms.

A cryptographer, Koraichi employs calligraphy in an abstract, symbolic manner so that his surfaces turn into symbols of protest. Often, strong lines cover a superimposition of contemporary poetic and political writings, surrounded by crosses, circles, ciphers and secret messages. He uses a variety of media to express his own cult of the script: canvas, paper, ceramic, glass, brick, bronze and banners reminiscent of African and Islamic scrolls.

At exhibitions in London (1995) and Paris (1990), however, Koraichi restricted himself to monocolour silk hangings, while in his gigantic pagan installation in the old amphitheatre of Carthage, in Tunis, Koraichi expressed the diversity of his cultural background: Touareg singers and dancers, texts by Algerian writers, Spanish and Corsican singers, all performing among Inca rain sticks, catapulting balls, torches, sarcophagi, silk tapestries and obelisks.

Koraichi often avoids colour, as in the silk hanging shown here, and works on the dramatic contrast of black on white, or gold on blue. Having painted so many texts by contemporary poets from Arab world, he sometimes retires into the silence of colours.

Koraichi has been actively involved in the struggle for democracy and freedom of speech in Algeria. He works very closely with Arab and European theatre and film directors, poets, musicians, and organisers in defending and mobilising the public on issues of freedom and democracy. He now lives in the medina of Tunis, surrounded by a beautiful collection of works by other Algerian and Arab artists.

Koraichi’s works can be found in many private and public institutions such as the British Museum, London; Museum of Modern Art, Paris; Museums of Modern Art in Tunis, Kuwait, Baghdad, Amman, and the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.

Rose Issa Curator, London

Rachid Koraichi was born in 1947 at Am Beida, Algeria, and graduated from the Fine Arts National School of Higher Education, Algiers; the National School of Decorative Arts, Paris; the National School of Fine Arts, Paris; and the Institute of Urbanism, Paris Academy. Since 1973 he has exhibited his works in many solo and group exhibitions around the world.

Untitled banner: 1993, gold and blue indigo hand-woven silk, 200 x 300 cm Photo: Heini Schneebeli

Front Cover: Rachid Koraichi, Square plate, 1997 ink on clay, 55 x 55 cm. Photo: Azria JC, Nimes