Selected Exhibitions | Selected Readings | Weblinks | Artist page | Introduction to Exhibit

In this environment of indigo-scripted banners and stamped squares, Rachid Koraïchi draws from the genius and technique of generations of local artisans in Syria. He also pays homage to the importance of indigo to cultures across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, where it was traded across the Silk Road and valued as a luxury. These banners are silkscreened from detailed, scripted and designed models and the squares are enlivened by intricate patterns applied with inked wooden stamps. Koraïchi carved some of these stamps himself; many others are antiques he has collected.

In his 7 Variations indigo, Koraïchi continues his inspiring investigations of the graphic, spiritual, intellectual and political power of script. He has developed a language all his own that draws not only from Islamic calligraphic styles but also Berber and Tuareg Tifinagh characters, magical squares and talismanic numbers and imaginary Chinese and Japanese ideograms. His personal alphabets are simultaneously aesthetic and ideological acts. Many of his fine charcoal works have emerged through collaboration with Middle Eastern and North African exiled poets and writers and have addressed the harsh political realities of that region, especially his native Algeria. As a descendant of one of the oldest Sufi intellectual families in North Africa (his family can trace its roots in the region to the eighth century) who for generations have practiced the contemplative study of Koranic writings, Koraïchi honors his history without being limited by it. In fact, in his multiple projects he strives to assert Sufism's deep humanistic strain that respects intellectual curiosity, tolerance of diversity and freedom of expression.

Selected Exhibitions
1998 Jardin du Paradis. Festival International des jardins. Chaumont-sur-loire. Leighton House, London.
1999 Global Conceptualism: Points of Origin, 1950s-1980s. Queens Museum of Art, New York.
1999-2000 Lettres d'Argile, Contemporary Art Museum, Caracas, Venezuela, Limoges and Algeria
2000 L'Enfant Jazz, Institut de monde arabe, Paris, France
2001 Beirut's Poem and Path of Roses, National Gallery of Fine Art, Amman, Jordan.
Une nation en exil. Palais des Nations Unies, Beyrouth, Germany.
A la tombée de la nuit. Quais de l'IsĖre, Grenoble.
Authentic/Ex-centric, Venice Biennale. Venice, Italy
The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa. Stuttgart, Germany and US venues.
2002 Rachid Koraïchi: 7 Variations autour de l'Indigo. Marseille: Vieille CharitČ et Alors Hors Du Temps.
Path of Roses: Beyruth Poem. Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Ithaca, New York
2003 Africa Informs. October Gallery, London, 2003.

Selected Readings
Hassan, Salah, and Iftikar Dadi, eds. Unpacking Europe. Rotterdam: NAi Publisher, 2001.
Marchand, ValĖre-Marie. Le jardin des mots. Editions Alternatives, 2000.
Pontcharra, Nicole de and Pierre Restany, Cris-Ecrits, Rachid Koraïchi. Brussels; Editions de Lassa, 1991.
Pontcharra, Nicole de and Roxanne Hodes, Lettres d'argile. Nimes: Editions Corinne Maeght, 1997.
Saadi, Nourredine and Jean-Louis Pradel, Koraïchi. Arles: Sinbad/Actes-Sud, 1998.
Koraïchi, Rachid and Marine Lostia, Rûmi-Le miroir infini. Paris: Editions Alternatives, 2001.
Unpacking Europe. NAI Publisher, 2001.

Weblinks
www.culturebase.net/artist.php?1562
www.octobergallery.co.uk/artists/koraichi
people.cornell.edu/pages/sh40/Koraichi