Une exposition collective de photographies d’art

A group exhibition of art photographs

Opening in Algiers of “Crossed Lights”

“Lumières croisés”, a collective exhibition of photographs, led by a host of artist-photographers, was inaugurated on Saturday in Algiers, in singular themes that highlight some aspects of the richness and diversity of Algerian cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Visible until August 8 at the “Hala” art gallery, recently opened in El Mouradia and which is thus hosting “its third artistic event”, the exhibition highlights the works of Rachid Ayadi, Khelil Benamara, Samir Djama, Abdelouahab Derder, Mustapha Khayal, Akram Menari, Belkacem Mustapha Mesbahi, Sidahmed Menasria and Mohamed El Amine Taïbi.
Generously offering the visitor several stops that constituted this beautiful journey to the heart of history, culture and ancestry, the artist-photographers displayed nearly sixty works in medium or large formats, in black and white or in color, suggesting more in-depth readings because they recall the density of Algerian cultural heritage, transmitted through the generations.
Present with seven color plates, Rachid Ayadi, advocates the customs and traditions of the great Algerian South, through a series of photographs, made abstract by a highly appreciated blurring technique, which the visitor will be able to discover in particular in, “Victory”, “The dance of peace”, “Diwane”, “Violin of feeling”, “The melody”, “Spiritual journey” and “Oud”.
On the other hand, the ten works by Khelil Benamara restore the built material heritage, with, among other plates, “Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Abdi” and “Koranic school of the house Sidi El Haouès M’Chounech” in the Aurès, as well as, “Ruins of the old Chetma building”, “African mausoleum of the Zibans”, “Djemoura Oasis” or even “Old village Lichana”, in the region of Biskra.
Giving a foretaste of his next work, a work between a large book and a portfolio dedicated to the different sites and districts of the capital Algiers, Samir Djama presents from this project, around ten standard format photographs (A4), as well as a second theme on “The pottery of Algeria”.
Abdelouahab Derder, for his part, chose to highlight, beyond the architectural beauty of “Djamaâ El Djazaïr”, some concepts related to existential symbolism and women, as the source of all inspirations. “Hope, portrait of an old woman”, “Gestures of women’s hands” and “Charm and beauty”, are among the boards exhibited by the artist. Under the prolific focus of Mustapha Khayal, the visitor will appreciate in particular, “The Kourdane palace” (Laghouat 2020), “Village Menaa” (Aurès 2019) and “Fantasia and riders”, while the young Akram Menari from Kasr Chellala, present with five boards, dedicates his work to the Fantasia and the equestrian heritage of the cities of Nâama, Boussaâda and Tiaret.
Displayed on “fine-art / watercolor” paper in medium formats, “A2” and “A3”, the youngest of the exhibitors, Belkacem Mustapha Mesbahi, submitted ten of his works for visitors’ appreciation, expressing the themes of “Hope”, with six works in black and white including, “Homage to the children of the Sahrawi refugee camps of Boujdour”, “The child of the shadow” and “Traveling sand” and “The Blue color”, (four color plates) symbolizing life.
Sid-Ahmed Menasria, artistic director and organizer of this exhibition with the master of the place, the gallery owner Ali Djerri, preferred for his part to cast his pertinent and sharp eye on “The dance of the warriors of Sbiba”, “The fence of the Sboue of Timimoun” and “The exit of the fishermen”, among others, as well as a series of boards dedicated to the women of the north and south of Algeria.
Mohamed El Amine Taïbi, for his part, chose to highlight the great city of Oran, from which he comes, through a theme that he entitled, “Symbols of the dynamics of the city of Oran”, deploying to do so five triptychs in which he treats architectural details while playing on abstraction and the notion of scale; among the triptychs proposed by the trained architect and interior designer Mohamed El Amine Taïbi, “Cliché”, “Art déco.” and “Entrelacs”.
RC