WAST-ED-DAR: Salim Le Kouaghet

18 January - 17 February 2024

"Wast-ed-Dar" is an intimate journey through signs, vibrant colors, and a resonating silence, a narrative in perpetual metamorphosis. Like a tale whose contours are drawn according to emotions and perceptions, "Wast-ed-Dar" evokes a place that could be at the heart of the Saharan desert, among the winding streets of Algiers, under a starry or scorching sun. It is a journey through time and space, where each color and each symbol engage in a silent dialogue, weaving a personal experience and unique interpretations.

The artist immerses us in this abundant universe, revealing the mysteries of his own pictorial writing. Silence, anticipation, and intimate dialogue with the canvas are fundamental elements of his artistic approach. Every gesture, every color becomes a conversation between the artist and his medium.

The Arabic alphabet, especially the letter Alif, emerges as an inexhaustible source of inspiration, revealing its grace through canvases and totems. It thus becomes a narrative that everyone can appropriate and interpret in their own way.

The "Wast-ed-Dar" exhibition invites us to explore this exceptional space at the heart of traditional Algerian homes. The central installation of the exhibition immerses us completely in this open-air space, a scenographic location par excellence, where only the flapping of swallow wings disrupts the silence. Salim Le Kouaghet does not limit himself to exploring visual art; he also draws from traditions and craftsmanship to enrich his canvases. Every color, every shape, every symbol becomes a storyteller. "Wast-ed-Dar" is an invitation to a timeless exploration, a visual odyssey in an intimate and preserved atmosphere that flourishes in an open courtyard, like a beating heart, occupying a significant place in everyone's life and memory.

Curated by Yasmine Azzi-Kohlhepp