Rachid Koraichi, born in 1947 in Algeria, is a contemporary artist whose unique approach to art explores spirituality and the human condition. His works, which delve into themes of peace, love,...
RACHID KORAICHI, Algeria (1947)
Bio
Written by Maria Lunderskov
Rachid Koraichi, born in 1947 in Algeria, is a contemporary artist whose unique approach to art explores spirituality and the human condition. His works, which delve into themes of peace, love, sorrow, oppression, and resistance, are characterized by abstract and symbolic compositions that employ a diverse range of materials and formats. Koraichi's strong interest in genealogy, the spread of Islam, and its present-day social impact forms the distinctive foundation of his work. Inspired by his shared last name with the Quraysh tribe, he embarked on a journey to trace the tribe's geographical development and intellectual and spiritual contributions by studying the manuscripts they left behind.[i] Koraichi is a French transliteration of the Arabic Quraysh. In the 7th Century, the Quraysh tribe took over the spread of Islam in Mecca, following the steps of the prophet Mohammad, whom they battled at first before believing in the Islamic religion. Through his art, Koraichi contributes to preserving and disseminating Islamic heritage, especially Sufi teachings.
Koraichi was introduced to Sufism at an early age, as some members of his family are affiliated with the Tijaniyyah.[ii] Sufi order[iii]. As a child, he appreciated Arabic calligraphy from old books found around him[iv]. Furthermore, his interest and love for drawing were highly supported by his mother, who also used to draw with the hopes of becoming an artist[v]. In 1971, Rachid Koraichi concluded his studies at the École National Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Algeria. That same year, he moved to Paris to continue his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD). He also attended the Institut d'Urbanisme de l’Académie de Paris. After graduating from both institutions in 1975, he embarked on two additional years of study at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris[vi].
Koraichi's practice links different cultures and temporalities, with a focal point being North African ancient art. His artworks come to life via intricate compositions of ancient signs, Islamic symbols, writings, and graphic elements from the artist's imagination. Of greatest inspiration for the artist were the rock paintings and carvings found in the southern part of the Sahara Desert, towards Mali and Nigeria[vii]. The writings that populate his artworks are transcriptions of Sufi texts about topics such as tolerance and sharing or an assemblage of signs that recall the mathematical and architectural properties of Arabic calligraphy.[viii]. By creating his own language of signs that prompt visitors to question the human condition, Koraichi aims to create a type of art that can be understood in a universal manner[ix].
A good example of Koraichi's experimentation with writing is the print L’encerclement de la Poussiere d’un Homme, 1986, part of the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation collection. Koraichi executed this work by adopting the printmaking technique of etching on copper printed on Velin d’Arche paper. Dominating the central part of the composition, we see a flat figure that appears to be reminiscent of Chinese letter characters, marked with bold, black broad, irregular lines. It stands against a background amassed with illegible texts tinted in ochre. Koraichi reveals that the abstracted figure represents an image of a dried-out man encircled or engulfed by dust. The stylized representation of the human body contrasts sharply with the colorful, dynamic, and intricate pattern of words behind it, evoking mind-body dualism. This symbolic depiction of the transcendent human experience highlights Koraichi's skill in bridging the boundaries between writing and drawing.
For Koraichi, writing and drawing are intrinsically linked, emerging from the same creative impulse. The warm ochre Arabic text, handwritten by Koraichi, forms a textured and almost hypnotic field. The text embodies the symbolic meaning of the dust of a vanishing body and a stream of thoughts. The artist emphasizes the connection between these writings and the human soul by stating that they are “[..] like writing your memoirs or a poem. It's personal." At the same time, the writing for Koraichi carries a universal meaning, is written in reverse, and is not supposed to be readable[x]. Koraichi’s print is a testament to the Sufi concepts of the ephemeral nature of life and the eternal quest for spiritual enlightenment. The title, L’encerclement de la Poussiere d’un Homme or The Encirclement of a Man’s Dust, reflects a contemplation of mortality, the impermanence of the physical body, and the enduring nature of the soul.
The notion of inclusion and relatedness exemplified in Koraichi's visual language expands to the production process of his art pieces and their format. Koraichi works with a variety of materials, including clay, glass, linen, and metal, collaborating with artisans from different parts of the world who master the practice and techniques, such as embroidery, of these materials. Rather than merely commissioning the work, Koraichi establishes a close connection with the artisans by being present during the production. The culture and tradition expressed through the artisan’s expertise become then a constitutive part of the artworks[xi].
Similarly, the public plays a role in expressing the message of Koraichi’s work. Since the 1990s, Koraichi has been creating installations, a medium he considers more comprehensive for expressing his curiosity about life and the human condition, compared to the singular artworks he previously made, such as ceramics, rugs, paintings, or engravings. According to him, the strength of installations is that the public becomes part of the work[xii] by circulating through and around the art pieces. Thus, Koraichi aims to disseminate knowledge by bridging cultural and social groups.
Dominant in his work is Koraichi's engagement in supporting contemporary liberation movements, such as the struggle for democracy and freedom of speech in his home country, Algeria. He has also identified with the fight for freedom in Palestine and shown solidarity with immigrant workers or the victims of natural catastrophes[xiii]. Koraichi has also addressed migration and exile. His work focuses intensively on the tragedy of immigrants dying in the Mediterranean Sea. Having lost a brother himself in the challenging crossing to Europe, he focuses on the pain, sorrow, and life of those who remain.[xiv].
To tell the story of the unfortunate travelers, Koraichi designed a cemetery titled Le Jardin d'Afrique, or the African Garden (inaugurated in 2021) for all the bodies beached onto the shore in Zarzis[xv], Tunisia. His project was fully self-financed. The cemetery was built on a 27,000-square-foot agricultural lot of land in Zaris, which Koraichi bought from a local farmer. Koraichi adopted various mediums to express his concept, such as printmaking and sculpting, creating large jars symbolizing the immense number of tears shed by family members. Zaris is a town inhabited by both Muslims and Christians; however, none of these communities wanted to bury the bodies in their cemeteries because they could not detect the religious background of the deceased.[xvi].
The Cemetery, Le Jardin d'Afrique, is meant to be seen as a garden of paradise, providing a respectful burial for people of all religions who had died at sea. It is an enclosed garden with tombs arranged in a geometric pattern, shaded by jasmine, bougainvillea, bitter orange trees, and gallant plants. Each body undergoes a DNA test, with the results inscribed on the tombstone, the shipwreck's date and location, and any identifying details such as age, gender, or clothing. This information is crucial for family members who may one day seek to locate their loved ones. The yellow entrance door, as described by the artist, symbolizes the sun and is intentionally low, prompting visitors to bow respectfully as they enter[xvii]. With the prosperous vegetation, hand-crafted tiles — decorated with talismanic glyphs, hearts, and other auspicious signs[xviii] — and prayer rooms, the place is designed to be an inviting and pleasant place for the families of the deceased to express their sorrow and maintain contact with their loved ones[xix]Thus, through his work, Koraichi seeks to encourage the world's inhabitants to prioritize sensitivity and compassion toward one another over societal and institutionalized religious rules.
In his practice of gaining a deeper insight into the human condition, Koraichi engages in rewriting the thoughts, emotions, and vibrations expressed in the work of thinkers from different eras, such as the Algerian writer Mohammed Dib[xx] and Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish[xxi] or Sufi philosophers like Jalaluddin Rumi and Ibn Al Arabi[xxii]. For example, the installation Invisible Masters[xxiii], 2010, for which Koraichi won the prestigious Jameel Prize in 2011, is a tribute to 14 mystic masters of Islam. This work is part of a series that Koraichi started in 2008. Invisible Masters,2010, consists of 99 fabric banners meticulously embroidered with geometric elements, Islamic symbols, and ciphers. The number 99 is reminiscent of God's 99 names or attributes - in Islam. The compositions visually represent the masters’ sophisticated and tolerant writings addressing Sufi concepts of love, travel, and transcendence ‘safar’ in Arabic, and the ecstatic feeling of connection with divinity[xxiv], to show how their messages remain relevant today, both in the East and the West[xxv].
One element of the Invisible Masters installation is the banner depicting an open palm, reminiscent of the Hamsa or Hand of Fatima known in Islam, but with more prominently spread-out fingers. The upper part of the palm is decorated with a wide-open eye, while the lower part and the five fingers are adorned with very small and tight geometric motifs. The open hand, a symbol found in ancient civilizations and Abrahamic religions, signifies peace in Koraichi's art and reflects the five pillars of Islam: faith in God, prayers, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca[xxvi]. This recurrent symbol in Koraichi’s art blends specific and shared cultural elements, illustrating how it conveys values relevant to the life of every human. Given the artist's attention to contemporary social dynamics, the installation Invisible Masters may seek to present another aspect of Islam that contrasts with the mainstream associations of crisis and violence. Koraichi's aspiration to revive and make his spiritual and intellectual legacy accessible to all through graphic language was admired by the judges and cited as the reason for the award he received[xxvii].
Rachid Koraichi's work profoundly explores the human condition, blending ancient symbolism with contemporary relevance. Recognizing the values of a heterogeneous world, he strives through his art to create a universal language that highlights the connections between past and present and between various cultural traditions. In realizing his works, he fuses diverse cultural techniques, uses diverse materials, and collaborates with global artisans. Sufi mysticism deeply influences his art, emphasizing peace, tolerance, and spiritual transcendence. Furthermore, throughout his career, Koraichi has been consistently committed to social justice, supporting liberation movements and shedding light on tragedies like the death of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea through his art. The artist currently lives and works between Algeria and France[xxviii].
Edited by Elsie Labban and Wafa Roz
Endnotes
[i] Nuria Medina, “This Long Journey into Your Gaze. Conversation with Rachid Koraïchi,” IEMed. European Institute of the Mediterranean, accessed October 11, 2024, https://www.iemed.org/publication/this-long-journey-into-your-gaze-conversation-with-rachid-koraichi/
[ii] “Tijjaniyyah is one of the 333 Sufi orders within the Islamic faith that helped shape the socio-political and religious transformation of societies in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular and the world at large. The movement was led by Sheikh Abul-Abbas Ahmad Al-Tijjany in the 19th Century with the support of his disciples in the Maghrib (Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt) and also in Sub-Saharan Africa in places like Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria.” (Bala, 2011:201)
Salisi Bala, 2011, “History of Origin Spread and Development of Tijjaniyyah Sufi Order in Hausaland: The Case of Zaria City, Circa, 1831-1933,” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Vol. 20, pp. 201-208
[iii]Nuria Medina, “This Long Journey into Your Gaze. Conversation with Rachid Koraïchi,” IEMed. European Institute of the Mediterranean, accessed October 11, 2024, https://www.iemed.org/publication/this-long-journey-into-your-gaze-conversation-with-rachid-koraichi/
[iv]Juliet Highet, "Calligraphy of Eternity,” The Middle East (London, England:1985) no. 413 (2010): 70
[v] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[vi] “Biographie,” Rachid Koraichi, accessed July 2, 2024, https://rachidkoraichi.com/bio/biographie/
[vii] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[viii] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[ix] Alya, “Renowned Artist Rachid Koraïchi and his Vision for Middle Eastern and North African Arts,” Khaleejesque, November 13, 2011, https://khaleejesque.me/2011/11/13/renowned-artist-rachid-koraichi-and-his-vision-for-middle-eastern-and-north-african-arts/
[x] Nuria Medina, “This Long Journey into Your Gaze. Conversation with Rachid Koraïchi,” IEMed. European Institute of the Mediterranean, accessed October 11, 2024, https://www.iemed.org/publication/this-long-journey-into-your-gaze-conversation-with-rachid-koraichi/
[xi] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xii] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xiii] Alya, “Renowned Artist Rachid Koraïchi and his Vision for Middle Eastern and North African Arts,” Khaleejesque, November 13, 2011, https://khaleejesque.me/2011/11/13/renowned-artist-rachid-koraichi-and-his-vision-for-middle-eastern-and-north-african-arts/
[xiv] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xv] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xvi] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xvii] “Le jardin d´Afrique,” FACTUM arte, accessed July 5, 2024, https://www.factum-arte.com/pag/1692/le-jardin-dafrique
[xviii] “Le jardin d´Afrique,” FACTUM arte, accessed July 5, 2024, https://www.factum-arte.com/pag/1692/le-jardin-dafrique
[xix] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xx] Nuria Medina, “This Long Journey into Your Gaze. Conversation with Rachid Koraïchi,” IEMed. European Institute of the Mediterranean, accessed October 11, 2024, https://www.iemed.org/publication/this-long-journey-into-your-gaze-conversation-with-rachid-koraichi/
[xxi] “"A Nation in Exile" by Mahmoud Darwish and Rachid Koraïchi,” Modern Arabesque, accessed October 13, 2024, https://www.modernarabesque.com/en/news/3304
[xxii] Juliet Highet, "Jameel Prize: Exciting Time for Islamic Artists,” New African, no. 530 (2013): 84.
[xxiii] “Les maitres invisibles,” Rachid Koraichi, accessed Juli 2nd, 2024, https://rachidkoraichi.com/oeuvres/patrimoine-2/les-maitres-invisibles-2/
[xxiv] Juliet Highet, "Calligraphy of Eternity,” The Middle East (London, England:1985) no. 413 (2010): 70
[xxv] Juliet Highet, "Jameel Prize: Exciting Time for Islamic Artists,” New African, no. 530 (2013): 84.
[xxvi] Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020: 35:13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
[xxvii] Juliet Highet, "Jameel Prize: Exciting Time for Islamic Artists,” New African, no. 530 (2013): 84.
[xxviii] “Rachid Koraichi,” October Gallery, Accessed July 3,2024, https://octobergallery.co.uk/artists/koraichi
Abusharaf, Rogaia Mustafa and Pragyan Acharya. “Rachid Koraïchi Faces Sea Terror in His Le Jardin d'Afrique: Reading W. E. B. DuBois in Zarzis.” Journal of Contemporary Art, no. 53 (November 2023): 34-43
Aga Khan Museum, “Virtual Tour and Talk: Tears that Taste of the Sea with Rachid Koraichi,” November 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidTwCd0OTM&t=2s
Alya. “Renowned Artist Rachid Koraïchi and his Vision for Middle Eastern and North African Arts.” Khaleejesque, November 13, 2011. https://khaleejesque.me/2011/11/13/renowned-artist-rachid-koraichi-and-his-vision-for-middle-eastern-and-north-african-arts/
Bala, Salisi. 2011. “History of Origin Spread and Development of Tijjaniyyah Sufi Order in Hausaland: The Case of Zaria City, Circa, 1831-1933.” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria,Vol. 20, pp. 201-208
FACTUM arte. “Le jardin d´Afrique.” Accessed July 5, 2024. https://www.factum-arte.com/pag/1692/le-jardin-dafrique
Highet, Juliet. "Calligraphy of Eternity." The Middle East (London, England:1985) no. 413 (2010): 70.
Highet, Juliet. ” Jameel Prize: Exciting Time for Islamic Artists.” New African, no. 530 (2013): 84.
Medina,Nuria.“This Long Journey into Your Gaze. Conversation with Rachid Koraïchi.” IEMed. European Institute of the Mediterranean. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.iemed.org/publication/this-long-journey-into-your-gaze-conversation-with-rachid-koraichi/
Modern Arabesque. “”A Nation in Exile" by Mahmoud Darwish and Rachid Koraïchi.” Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.modernarabesque.com/en/news/3304
October Gallery. “Rachid Koraichi.” Accessed July 3, 2024. https://octobergallery.co.uk/artists/koraichi
Rachid Koraichi. “Biographie.” Accessed July 2, 2024. https://rachidkoraichi.com/bio/biographie/
Rachid Koraichi, “Les maitres invisibles,” Accessed Juli 2nd, 2024. https://rachidkoraichi.com/oeuvres/patrimoine-2/les-maitres-invisibles-2/
+–
CV
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
Rachid Koraïchi: An Ode to Intertwined Histories, Elmarsa, Dubai, Al Quoz, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Rachid Koraïchi: Celestial Blue, October Gallery, Bloomsbury, London, UK
2022
Le Chant de l’Argent Désir, Aicon Gallery, New York, United States of America
2021
Tears that Taste of the Sea, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2019
This Long Journey into Your Gaze (Este largo viaje hasta tu mirada),Casa Árabe, Spain
This Long Journey into Your Gaze (Este largo viaje hasta tu mirada),Córdoba, Spain
2018
Les Maîtres du Temps (Masters of Time),October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Les Sept Stations Célestes (The Seven Heavenly Stations),Aicon Gallery, New York,United States of America
2017
Les Ancrêtres liés aux Étoiles, A27 Art Gallery, Paris, France
2016
Love Side by Side With The Soul,Aicon Gallery, New York, United States of America
2015
Il n’est d’autres souverains que ceux qui me regardant, Elmarsa Gallery, Dubai,United Arab Emirates
2011
Une Nation en Exile (A Nation in Exil),Montauban, France
Path of Roses (Tariq al-Ward),Abu Dhabi Festival, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
2010
Rachid Koraïchi: Ecstatic Flow, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2008
Les Ancrêtres Liés aux Étoiles (Ancestors Linked to the Stars),Chapelle Saint Martin,Le Méjan, Arles, France
Chemin des Roses (Path of Roses),Citadel of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria
Homage to Mahmoud Darwish, Islamic Cultural Institute, Paris, France
2007
20 Years: 12 Poets: Ceramics by Rachid Koraïchi,Institute for the Humanities,University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
A Nation in Exil (Une Nation en Exile), Gallery 23, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Homage to Love and Memory, The George W. South Memorial, Church of Philadelphia, United States of America
2005
Ancestral Memories, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2004
Alep, Voyage en Soi(e) of Rachid Koraïchi (Silken Voyage Inside Oneself),Gallery Esma, Riadh el Feth, Algiers, Algeria
Rachid Koraïchi: 7 Indigo Variations (7 Variations d’Indigo),Museum of Marseille,Marseille, France
2003
Africa Informs, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2002
Path of Roses (Chemin des Roses),The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
Beirut’s Poem (Poem de Beirut),The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
A Nation In Exile (Une Nation en Exil),The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art,Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
A Nation in Exile (Une Nation en Exil),United Nations, Beirut, Lebanon
2001
Beirut’s Poem (Poème de Beirut),National Gallery of Fine Art, Amman, Jordan
Path of Roses (Chemin des roses),Institut Francais de Casablanca et de Marrakech, Morocco
Homage to Ibn ‘Arabi, Church of Mérignac, Mérignac, France
Homage to Ibn ‘Arabi, Darat al-Funun, Amman, Jordan
2000
Rencontre à Casablanca (Meeting in Casablanca),Gallery Al Manar, Casablanca, Morocco
Anthology of Arab Poems, National Library, Limoges, France
Interfaces, The Bachelard Amphitheater, Paris, France
1999
Chemin des Roses, hommage à Rûmî (The Path of roses - Homage to Rûmî),Residency at the institut Français, Anatolia, Turkey
Autour des voyages de Delacroix et Matisse (Around the Travels of Delacroix Matisse),Marrakesh, Morocco
Ô Fleurs! Hommage à Attar (Oh Flowers! Homage to Attar), International Garden Festival, Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
Global Conceptualism: Points of Origin 1950s – 1980s, Queen Museum of Art, New York, United States of America
1998
Rachid koraïchi: Clay, Silk, Paper & Steel, Leighton House Museum, London, United Kingdom
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),Éspace Gard,Nîmes, France
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),Darat al-Funun,Amman, Jordan
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),Ribat de Sousse,Tunis, Tunisia
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),National Francophone Multimedia Library of Limoges, Limoges, France
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999), Gallery Isma,Algiers, Algeria
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas, Venezuela
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),Embassy of France, Algiers, Algeria
Letters of Clay (Lettres d’argile): Homage to Ibn’ Arabi (1998-1999),Gallery Gorgi, Institut Français, Tunis, Tunisia
Silk and Clay, Darat al-Funun, The khalid Shoman Foundation in association with AFAA and the institute Français, Amman, Jordan
Le Jardin du Paradis, International Garden Festival, Chaumont-sur-loire, Leighton House, London, United Kingdom
Anthologie de poésie arabe (Anthology of Arab Poems), Elsa Triolet and Jules Verne Library, Pantin, France
1997
L’Enfant-jazz, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
L’Enfant-jazz,Studio Frank Bordas, Paris, France
L’Enfant-jazz, Country center for Educational Documentation, Avignon, France
L’Enfant-jazz, Collège des Hautes Vallées, Guillestre, France
L’Enfant-jazz, Sakakini Foundation, Ramallah, Palestine
L’Enfant-jazz, Passage de l’art, Marseille, France
Hommage à Okba (Homage to Okba),(Steel Sculpture), University of Kairouan, Tunis, Tunisia
Hommage à René Char, Michel Butor, Mohamed Dib (Homage to René Char, Michel Butor, Mohamed Dib),Monumental Tapestry, National Francophone Multimedia Library of Limoges, Limoges, France
A Nation in Exile (Une Nation en Exil),The Khalid Shoman Foundation, Darat al-Funun, Amman, Jordan
1995
Objects and Décor for The Queen Dido(La Reine Didon), Antique Theatre of Carthage, Festival of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
1994
Gallery Schauer, Paris, France
Gallery Yehya, Tunis, Tunisia
1993
Nuits d’Encens (Nights of Incense) - Homage to Algiers, Anthique Theatre of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
Les Sept Portes du Ciel (The Seven Gates of Heaven), Artibule, Institut Français, Morocco
The Seven Gates of Heaven (Les Septs Portes du Ciel), Tour de Constance, Aigues-Mortes, France
Carpets and Tapestries, Gallery Gorgi, Tunis, Tunisia
1992
Cherif Gallery, Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunis, Tunisia
Gallery Ipso, Bruxelles, Belgium
Salomé, Tabacco Factory, Ajaccio, Corsica
Salomé, Artibule, Institut Français, Casablanca, Morocco
Gallery Jaqueline Moussion, Paris, France
1991
L’Art contemporain (Contemporary Art),Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Gallery Editart, Geneva, Switzerland
Havana Biennial, Wilfredo Lam Center, Havana, Cuba
Gallery Ipso, Brussels, Belgium
1990
Salomé, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
1989
The Gallery of National Council for Culture, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Editart Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland
Sultan Gallery, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Isma Gallery, Algiers, Algeria
1986
Sultan Art Gallery, Kuwait City, Kuwait
D. Blanco Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland
1978
Irtissem Gallery, Tunis, Tunisia
1974
Château de la Hercerie (Castle de la Hercerie), La Croix-en-Touraine, France
Selected Group Exhibition
2024
Collective Exhibitions 2024 Prints & Printmaking, Ramzi & Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation Beirut, Lebanon
A2Z Family & Friends: 15th Birthday Of The Gallery, A2Z Art Gallery, Hong Kong Central, Hong Kong
Arab Presences: Modern Art And Decolonisation: Paris 1908-1988, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, France
Unhealed, Moderna Museet, Malmo, Malmö, Sweden
Hudood: Rethinking boundaries, The Brunei Gallery, SOAS Bloomsbury, London, UK
2023
In Solidarity with Palestine, Darat al Funun, Amman, Jordan
The Future Of Traditions, Writing Pictures Contemporary Art From The Middle East, The Brunei Gallery, SOAS, Bloomsbury, London, UK
2022
Algerian Modernism, Elmasra, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Rachid KoraÏchi: Le Chant de l’Argent Désir, Aicon Gallery, New York, United States of America
Nomadic Resonance, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2021
Contemporary Ceramic Art from the Middle East, Victoria & Albert Museum, London,United Kingdom
Arts of Africa: Gallery Rotation,Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA
Algérie mon amour: Artistes de la Fraternité Algérienne 1953-2021, Institut du;Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Postcolonial Ecologies, Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan
Wondrous Worlds: Art & Islam Through Time & Place, Michael C. Carlos Museum,Georgia, United States of America
Rachid Koraïchi: Tears that Taste of the Sea, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2020
Atmospheres: Artists Of The Transvangarde, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Between the Sun and the Moon Lahore Biennale 02, Lahore Museum, Lahore, Pakistan
2019
Dream No Small Dream: Celebrating 40 Years of the Transvangarde, October Gallery,London, United Kingdom
Dix ans déjà! (10 years already !),A2Z Art Gallery, Paris, France
2018
Al Musiqa, Cité de la musique-Philarmonie de Paris, Paris, France
Sahara: What is Written Will Remain, Gallerie delle Prigoni, Treviso, Italy
Calligraphy as Process from East Asia, the Middle east, North Africa, Europe and the Americas, Garage Cosmos, Brussels, Belgium
2017
Interwoven Dialogues: Contemporary Art from Africa and South Asia, Aicon Gallery, New York, United States of America
Tour du monde en tondo, Musée de l’Hospice Saint-Roch, Issoudun, France
As Above, So Below: Portals, Visions, Spirits & Mystics, Irish Museum of Modern Art,Dublin, Ireland
100 chef-d’oeuvre de l’art modern et contemporain Arabe, Institut du Monde Arabe,Paris, France
Trésor de l’Islam en Afrique,Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
2016
Not New Now, Marrakech Biennale, Marrakech, Morocco
The Invisible Masters, Installation of 49 banners, Carreau du Temple in collaboration with October Gallery in London, AKAA, Paris, France
Jardin d’Orient de l’Alhambra au Taj Mahal, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Wondrous Worlds: Art & Islam Through Time & Place, Newark Museum, Newak, New Jersey, United States of America
Rencontre, émotions partagées, A2Z Gallery, Paris, France
2015
Positif Exil, 19 Paul Fort, Paris, France
Nel Mezzo del Mezzo, Museo RISO, Regional Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Palermo, Italy
International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition,Wafi Mall, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Expanding Africa at the Newark Museum: New Visions, New Galleries, Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
2014
Seeing Through Light: Selections from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Collection, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Global Africa Project: Political Patterns, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea
The 2ndInternational Casablanca Biennale, Casablanca, Morocco
ArteVida, Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
35 Years of the Transvangarde: Contemporary art from around the Planet, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2013
Qalam, the Art of Beautiful Writing, Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, United Kingdom
Symbiosis of Two Worlds, Palais Namaskar , Marrakech, Morocco
Masters of the Transvangarde, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Trade Routes,Hauser & Wirth, London, United Kingdom
2012
Dieu(x): Modes d’Emploi, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris, Paris,France
Reflections from Heaven, Meditations on Earth: Modern Calligraphic Art from the Arab World, Museum of the Imperial Forums, Rome, Italy
Written images: Contemporary Calligraphy from the Middle East, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, United States of America
2010
The Future of Tradition – The Tradition of Future, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany
The Global Africa Project,Museum of Arts and Design, New York, United States of America
Miragens, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Brazil
2009
The Essential Art of African Textiles: Design Without End, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States of America
2008
The Poetics of Cloth, Grey Art Gallery, New York, United States of America
Les Ancêtres liés aux Étoiles (Ancestors Linked to the Stars),Chapelle Saint-Martin,Le Méjan, Arles, France
Word into Art, The British Museum touring Exhibition, The Artium, The Leading International Financial Hub & Destination (DIFC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Angaza Afrika: African Art Now, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2007
The Dance of Quill and Ink: Contemporary Art of the Middle East, State Hermitage Museum, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Inscribing Meaning: Writing and Graphic Systems in African Art, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., United States of America
2006
Without Boundary: Seventeen Different Ways of Looking, MoMa, New York, United States of America
Text Messages,October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Word into Art,British Museum, London, United Kingdom
2005
The seven Gates of Heaven (Les Sept Portes du Ciel),The British Museum, London,United Kingdom
TEXTures: Word and Symbol in Contemporary African Art, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., United States of America
2004
Intelligence Now!, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2003
Voyage d’Artistes, Algérie 2003, Espace EDF – Electra, Paris, France
Africa Informs, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Répliques, Tunnel des Facultés, Algiers, Algeria
Fragments of Script, Comédie Française, Paris, France
2002
A la nuit tombée (A Nightfall),Quais de l’Isère, Grenoble, France
2001
Unpacking Europe, Museum Bojimans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Authentic/Ex-centric, 49thVenice Biennale, Venice, Italy
The Short Century, Munich, Germany
The Short Century, Chicago, United States of America
The Short Century, New York, United States of America
2000
Fifth Season, Foundation Actua, Casablanca, Morocco
Belkahia – Koraïchi, Gallery El Manae, Casablanca, Morocco
1999
Contemporary Visions, Borj de Bab Marrakech, Essaouira, Morocco
Global Conceptualism, The Queens Museum of Art, New York, United States of America
Jardins Secrets III (Secret Gardens III),Factory of OEillets, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
1998
Les Peintres du signe (The Painters of the Sign),Festival of Humanity, La Courneuve, Paris, France
Mediterranea, Art from around the world,Botanical Gardens, Brussels, Belgium
80 Artists from around the world, Gallery Enrico Navarra, Paris, France
Méditation (Meditations),Madrassa Ibn Youssef, Marrakesh, Morocco
Pacaembú,São Paolo, Brazil
1997
Modernities and Memories, Rockfeller Foundation, The 47thVenice Biennial, Venice,Italy
Modernities and Memories,Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey
Artists for Peace: Rachid Koraïchi, Farid Belkahia, Louis Feuillade Exhibition Space, Lunel, France
1996
Arabic signs, Museum voor Volkenkunde, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Image of Africa, Barbican Centre, London, United Kingdom
Image of Africa, Odense, Denmark
L’Art Contemporain (Contemporary Art),Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
Fifth International Biennial of Visual Poetry, Palace Legislativo, Mexico
Invitation à voyager (Invitation to Travel),R. Koraïchi with Farid Belkahia, Festival of the South (Fiesta des Suds), Marseille, France
1995
Signs, Traces & Calligraphy: Five Contemporary Artists from North Africa,Gallery, Barbican, London, United Kingdom
Signs, Traces & Calligraphy: Five Contemporary Artists from North Africa museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Six Flags of Tolerance, 50thAnniversary of the United Nations, New York,United States of America
Six Flags of Tolerance, 50thAnniversary of the United Nations, UNESCO,France
The 11thInternational Print Triennial, Fredrikstad, Norway
Graphic Arts Biennial, Laureates exhibition, Warsaw, Poland
1993
Painters from the Maghreb, CKC, Ghent, Belgium
1990
6thINTERBEP ’90, Tuzla, Yugoslavia
International Graphic Triennial, Frechen, Germany
Inter Graphic-90, Berlin, Germany
The 2ndBiennial Graphic Arts from the Mediterranean, Athens, Greece
Faire du Chemin avec… Hommage à René Char (Going along with… Homage to René Char),Palais des Papes, Avignon, France
1989
The International Havana Biennial,Havana, Cuba
The 9thEngraving Triennial, Fredrikstad, Norway
Gallery Szutski, Lodz, Poland
International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia
1988
The 2ndInternational Biennial de Palbia Alternativa, Mexico
Ernst Museum, Budapest, Hungary
Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, Japan
Art Gallery Senac, Ribeiraô Preto, São Paolo, Brazil
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Croatia
1987
Lahti Art Museum, Lahti, Finland
1986
Sign and Clligraphy, together with Jamil Hamoudi,Mohamed Bouthelidja and Hassan Massoudy, Musée National d’Art Africain et Océanien, Paris, France
Art for Humanity, Baghdad, Iraq
The 40thAnniversary of UNESCO,UNESCO, Paris, France
Tokyo Metropolitan Fine Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Comparaison – l’Art Actuel (Comparisons – Art today),Le Grand Palais, Paris, France
1985
Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio, United States of America
Yokosuka City Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan
1984
Contemporary Arab Graphic Art, Arab Heritage, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Inter-Graphic-84, Berlin, Germany
Tacoma Art Museum, Washington D.C., United States of America
Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery, New York, United States of America
Homage to William Morris, Modern Art Museum, San Francisco, United States of America
1983
King Khaled International Airport – several artworks in the Royal Pavilion, Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery, Japan
Contemporary Arab Artists, Part III, Iraqi Cultural Center, London, United Kingdom
1982
The 6th Norwegian International print Biennial, Fredrikstad, Norway
Gallery Bab Rouah, Rabat, Morocco
The 9th International Triennial of Original Colored Graphic Prints, Grenchen, Switzerland
1981
The Royal Pavilion, King Abdulaziz Iternational Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Gallery Sultan, Sabhan, Kuwait
1980
The National Gallery of Fine Art, Amman, Jordan International Trade Centre, New York, United States of America
Contemporary Arab Art,Museum of Modern Art, Tunis, Tunisia
Library of Congress, Washington D.C., United States of America
Tiles,Smithsonian, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York, United States of America
1979
De l’écriture Arabe à la gravure (From Arab Writings to Etching),Atelier Musée d’Art Graphique d’Arceil, France
1978
Arab Painters, Exhibition Space Pierre Cardin, Paris, France
Bibliothèque Nationale Cabinet d’Estampes, Paris, France
Galerie Municipale, Cabinet d’Estampes, Paris, France
1977
The International Print Biennial, National Centre de la Gravure, Épinal, France
Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France
Peinture murale, brigade d’intervention Culturelle (a collective of painters from Arab countries),Université de Jussieu, Paris, France
1976
The 37th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
L’Algérie de Enfants (Children’s Algeria),Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris,France
Museum of Contemporary Art, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1975
Studio Xavier de Lassale, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Galerie d’Art d’Orly Sud, Paris, France
Awards and Honors
2013
Le Grand Prix d’Institut de France, Fondation Prince Louis de Polignac, Paris, France
2011
Jameel Prize, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
Collections
Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon
The National Gallery, Amman, Jordan
The Khalid Shoman Foundation, Darat al Funun, Amman, Jordan
Guggenheim Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The National Gallery, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Museum of Contemporary Art, Baghdad, Iraq
Museum of Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt
Archdiocese of Algiers, Algeria National Library, Algiers, Algeria
Our Lady of the Atlas Monastery of Tibhirine, Algeria
Museum of Modern Art, Tunis, Tunisia
Abbey of Notre-Dame d’Aiguebelle, Montjoyer, France
La Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris, Paris, France
Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France
Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France
La bibliothèque francophone multimédia de Limoges, Limoges, France
Musée National d’Art Africain et Océanien, Paris, France
Les Jardins d’Orient, Le Château Royal d’Amboise, France
The Vatican Library, Rome, Italy
Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
Wereld Museum, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Written Art Foundation, Frankfurt,Germany
The Bagri Family Collection, London, United Kingdom
Museum of Mankind, London, United Kingdom
The British Museum, London, United Kingdom
Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi, India
Sindika Dokolo Foundation, Luanda, Angola
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington D.C., United States of America
Miami Art Museum, Miami, United States of America
Newark Museum, New Jersey, United States of America
Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., United States of America
Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas, Venezuela
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Documents
Copy of Booklet Koraichi.pdf
Copy of الخطاط الجزائري رشيد قريشي يفوز بجائزة مرموقة - BBC Arabic.pdf
Copy of لوحاته ميدان اتصال وانفصال بين الابيض والاسود . الفنان الجزائري رشيد قريشي _ آفاق ما بعد الحداثة وتفكيك الحروفية العربية .pdf
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Press
Copy of حوار مع رشيد القريشي - المجلة.pdf
Copy of u-in-u.com.pdf
Copy of Shining a spotlight on North African art - MWT.pdf
Rachid Koraïchi _ Darat al Funun.pdf
Copy of رشيد قريشي ..الفنان الجزائري الذي اشترى أرضاً وخصصها لدفن المهاجرين السريين.pdf
معرض الخطاط الجزائري رشيد قريشي .. لوحات مشحونة بروح الحرف العربي.pdf
Copy of رشيد قريشي يفوز بجائزة _جميل_ اللندنية.pdf
Copy of جزايرس _ الجزائر رشيد قريشي يفوز بالجائزة.pdf
مغرس _ رشيد قريشي_ الحرف العربي مقدس لا يجوز الدوس عليه.pdf
متى يتصالح ميترو الجزائر مع الفنّانين؟.pdf
Copy of الجزيرة.نت.pdf
Copy of Vam.ac.uk.pdf
Copy of BarakaBits.pdf
Copy of NYTimes.pdf
Copy of TheNational.pdf
Copy of FranceCulture.pdf
Copy of Algeriades.pdf
Copy of A Solo Show by Internationally Renowned Algerian Artist Rachid Koraichi - Magazine Islamic Arts Magazine.pdf
Copy of OctoberGallery.pdf
Copy of الفنان التشكيلي رشيد قريشي_ “الحركة التشكيلية العربية تشهد طفرة كبيرة رغم الظروف المحيطة بها” – الحياة العربية.pdf
Copy of رشيد قريشي أطلق الحرف العربي في حدائق اللغات _ فاروق يوسف _ صحيفة العرب.pdf
Copy of OCTOBER GALLERY _ RACHID KORAÏCHI _ ART _ BIOGRAPHY _ ART FOR SALE.pdf
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Exhibitions
RACHID KORAICHI Artwork
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