"Through his art, Koraïchi delves into the interconnections between metaphysics, spirituality, and aesthetics."
Rachid Koraïchi, born in Ain Beida, Algeria in 1947, currently resides and works between Tunisia and France. He pursued his education at the Institute of Fine Arts and the Superior National School of the Arts in Algeria before relocating to France to further his studies at the National School of Decorative Arts and the School of Urban Studies in Paris.
Koraïchi's artistic explorations encompass a diverse range of media, including ceramics, textiles, various metals, and painted works on silk, paper, or canvas. Embracing a multi-disciplinary practice as an extension of prayer and divine reverence, his artworks are infused with ideographic symbolism and contemplative forms, drawing inspiration from a myriad of calligraphic traditions and a rich blend of influences, from Chinese ideograms to pre-Islamic Berber and Tuareg art forms. Through his art, Koraïchi delves into the interconnections between metaphysics, spirituality, and aesthetics, making it an exercise in the process of transformation.
Throughout his illustrious career, Rachid Koraïchi has been featured in prestigious exhibitions, including the international touring exhibition Short Century, the 47th and 49th Venice Biennale, and Word into Art at the British Museum in 2006. His works have been widely showcased worldwide and are held in numerous private and public collections, such as the British Museum in London, the National Museum for African Art in Washington, and the Museum of Islamic Arts in Doha.
In 2010, Koraïchi contributed to the exhibition "Isla (Islam)" at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brazil and "The Future of Tradition – The Tradition of Future" at the Haus de Kunst in Germany. Apart from his professional projects, Rachid Koraïchi has also dedicated his efforts to personal ventures, such as the Garden of Africa. The Garden of Africa, entirely financed by Koraïchi, stands as a memorial resting place in Zarzis, Southern Tunisia. Its primary purpose is to provide a dignified final burial ground for the countless migrants who tragically lost their lives in the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Le Jardin d’Afrique is a non-denominational cemetery, garden and DNA database, aimed at becoming a place of remembrance. A small staff at the Garden of Africa obtains and keeps record of the DNA with the ultimate intention of reuniting families with their loved ones who were lost during perilous migration journeys.