Marrakech – Back in the artistic embrace of Casablanca, Najia Mehadji, a prominent figure in visual arts, prepares for a homecoming of sorts, a press release shared with Morocco World News stated.
From April 23rd to May 24th, the artist will present her fourth individual exhibition, “Rosebud,” at L’Atelier 21.
In the exhibition catalog text, art historian Brahim Alaoui sheds light on the recent work of the artist.
Alaoui said, “Najia revisits the War Flower series, which she reinterprets in 2023 in a version she calls Rosebud, referencing the whispered word by the wealthy dying hero in Orson Welles’ legendary film, Citizen Kane,” noting that, “itis understood at the end that Rosebud is the embodiment of love that surpasses power and material success.”
The press release highlighted that, since the 1980s, Mehadji’s art has blended contemporary painting with elements of Islamic art like domes, polygons, florals, arabesques, and calligraphy.
This fusion has birthed fresh concepts and forms, shaping the artist’s distinct style.
According to the press release, Mehadji is considered one of the major artists on the African scene, continually renewing her art and opening up new possibilities of expression with each endeavor.
However, a constant thread runs through her works: a recognizable gesture that immediately identifies the creator of the paintings and drawings.
This gesture, both free and perfectly controlled, asserts itself in Mehadji’s works as an attempt to unravel the very mystery of painting.
Najia Mehadji’s works are featured in numerous collections, including those of the Arab World Institute in France, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Jordan, Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Morocco.
