Eminent Algerian artist, Rachid Koraïchi launched the Abu Dhabi Festival with his celebrated Path of Roses exhibition at the Emirates Palace today. The regional premiere of this masterpiece took audiences breath away with Koraïchi’s inspirational use of textiles, metal and ceramics. The Path of Roses celebrates the Islamic concept of safar (travel and transcendence) and pays homage to Jalal ad-Din Rumi, the great 13th century poet and mystic.

Upon viewing Koraïchi’s unveiling, dozens of enthused spectators signed up to attend his informative lecture scheduled for 24th March, which will explore the story behind the Path of Rose (an installation which has been 15 years in the making). The lecture to be held in the Zaha Hadid Pavilion in association with Alliance Francaise promises to intrigue both art collectors and art enthusiasts.

To unite all these pieces together successfully in any one particular space, Koraïchi has worked closely together with the celebrated Algerian architect, Halim Faidi, to create a site-specific “scenography” for the installation and innovative French Lighting Designer Georges Berne, who in an illustrious career has been called upon to light the work of Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Picasso.

Koraïchi’s sculptural explorations extend across an impressive range of media. His work can be found around the world in institutions such as the British Museum, London; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Germany; Neue Galerie, Kassel, Germany; Setagagya Art Museum, Tokyo and GOMA, Brisbane.

To commemorate the Path of Roses, the Abu Dhabi Festival has released a major publication on the life and work of Koraïchi entitled ‘Rachid Koraïchi: Eternity is the Absence of Time’ featuring essays by leading experts of contemporary Arab art including Salah Hassan and Rose Issa.

Koraïchi’s exhibition will be open throughout the entire festival at the Emirates Palace, Auditorium Foyer, 19th March - 4th April. He will take members of the public on a guided tour of the installation on March 20th (11:30am) and members of the Emirati artist community on March 22nd (6:30pm). On March 24th, he will deliver the Abu Dhabi Festival Lecture at the Zaha Hadid Pavilion (7pm).

For further information please call the Abu Dhabi Festival Hotline number +971 50 907 6158.

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