Artists from the Algerian diaspora form a living mosaic of geographies. Their work stands as a powerful testament to a dual anchorage: deeply rooted in their origins and inscribed in memory, yet firmly grounded in their host countries, where they shape their artistic practice. This interplay between here and elsewhere, belonging and displacement, becomes a transformative force, turning art into a space of transition, dialogue, and reinvention.
Gathered at the Palais de la Culture for the International Cultural Festival of Contemporary Art, these artists embody a subtle duality: they inhabit multiple worlds at once. Their approach goes beyond nostalgia and forgetfulness, venturing into the in-between to reveal new forms, plural narratives, and innovative visual languages. Their creations explore profound themes including memory, exile, attachment, commitment, and freedom, challenging conventional expectations and limits.
Algeria emerges as both a trace and a horizon, carrying an intimate memory and projecting into the future. Its essence unfolds through a variety of media, from the vibrant resonance of color to the evocative rendering of imagined landscapes, all while engaging with contemporary issues such as migration, shifting identities, fragmentation, and global aspirations. In this dynamic dialogue between places and times, the diaspora affirms a distinct identity: that of an Algeria, open to the world and connected to the present.
This exhibition transcends the mere presentation of diverse talents. It asserts that the art of the diaspora is not a peripheral concern, but an essential force within contemporary creation. It celebrates the richness of shared memory and the energy of artistic expression that defies borders, inviting every viewer to confront and expand their own boundaries.
Curated by Yasmine Azzi-Kohlhepp