Algérie, mon amour: the exceptional exhibition by the Arab World Institute

It usually takes one artist to fall in love with a culture and a country. Thanks to painter Abdallah Benanteur, Claude and France Lemand were seized by a passion for Algeria, creating over the years a collection of exceptional pieces of work about this country and its artists. A collection given to the musée de l'Institut du monde arabe that is happy to be able to count over 600 pieces of modern and contemporary art, made by artists from the Arab world and its diasporas.

This rich collection – including paintings by Louis Nallard born in 1918 and El Meya a contemporary artist-painter – is at the very core of the Institute’s latest exhibition: Algérie, mon amour. Artistes de la fraternité algérienne 1953-2021 – Algeria, my love. Artists from the Algerian brotherhood 1953-2021 – running from March 18 to July 13, 2022.

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For this new exhibition, the museum shines a light on 18 artists and 36 masterpieces – a very varied selection providing a new look on three generations of artists from Algeria and its diasporas. You can admire an exceptional installation by Kamel Yahiaoui, as well as portraits by M’hamed Issiakhem, colorful women from Baya, revolutionary works by Choukri Mesli, photographs by Halida Boughriet…

Each piece of work tells story, wrath, and hope of the Algerian people, motivated by a deep love for liberty and art. Two values echoing the feelings of French artists enabling to consolidate the affection and solidarity between thinkers and artists from both countries.

Paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations… The Algérie, mon amour exhibition is a great spotlighting on the artistic scene of France and Algeria. This is also an original way for visitors wishing to find out more about the history of Algeria, on social, economic and aesthetic contexts that influenced each work.

A great discovery waiting for you at the Arab World Institute!