Rachid Koraïchi “Le Chant de l’Ardent Désir”

Aicon Gallery

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Aicon New York presents Le Chant de l’Ardent Désir, the third major U.S. solo exhibition of Algerian born artist Rachid Koraïchi. The exhibition runs concurrently with the recent opening of Jardin d’Afrique, Jardin du Paradis. This UNESCO recognized world heritage site in Zarzis, a coastal commune in southeastern Tunisia, is a paradise-like garden conceived by Koraïchi as a final resting place for migrants who died, often anonymously, at sea. Inspiration for the project comes from the parting words of the artist’s late grandfather: “He who dies very rich has missed his life because he did not know how to share.”

Koraïchi was born in Ain Beida, Algeria in 1947 and now lives and works in Paris with major projects in Algeria, Egypt, Spain, Tunisia, the USA, and Dagestan. His practice extends across an impressive range of media, including ceramics, textiles, bronze sculptures, and canvases. He engages local artists and craftsmen trained in ancient traditions to craft pieces for site-specific installations. Koraïchi won the prestigious Jameel Prize in 2011. The artist presented installations at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in 2011 and Marrakech Biennale in 2016. He was included in both the 47th and 49th Venice Biennales. Koraïchi was shown in the inaugural exhibition at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2015 as well as The Future of Tradition, Haus der Kunst, Munich, 2010; Word into Art, The British Museum, 2006; and Without Boundary: Seventeen Ways of Looking, MoMA, 2006.