Nja Mahdaoui
Calligrams, 2011
Indian ink and gold on vellum
45.2 x 45.2 in. | 115 x 115 cm
Nja Mahdaoui
Maqam Essafa, 2011
Lost wax bronze sculpture
33.4 x 30.7 x 23.6 in. | 85 x 78 x 60 cm
Edition of 4
Nja Mahdaoui
Midoun, 2004
Indian ink and acrylic on canvas
59 x 59 in. | 150 x 150 cm
Nja Mahdaoui
Akmar, 2009
Ink on linen canvas
78.7 x 78.7 in. | 200 x 200 cm
Nja Mahdaoui (b. 1937, Tunisia) is a major figure in modern and contemporary Arab art, best known for his distinctive use of Arabic calligraphy. Described as a “choreographer of letters,” Mahdaoui builds his compositions from signs and calligraphic forms that suggest language without necessarily being read as text. His work draws from Arabic manuscript and literary traditions, as well as poetry, sacred texts, and mythology.
Mahdaoui studied at the Atelier Libre in Carthage before continuing his education in Rome and later at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. In the early 1970s, partly influenced by Iranian artist Hossein Zenderoudi, he began exploring the possibilities of the written word in his work. He is particularly known for his intricate ink drawings on parchment, but has also worked with wood, aluminum, brass, papyrus, tapestry, and large-scale public commissions. His work is held in numerous international collections, including The British Museum, London; Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C.; National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh; Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur; LaM, Lille; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; and Dalloul Art Foundation, Beirut. Mahdaoui lives and works in Tunisia.