Algerian Radio
A new exhibition by visual artist Mustapha Boucenna, who draws inspiration from human history, poetry, and ancient civilizations, opened Saturday in Algiers.
Titled "The Memory of Dreams" (La mémoire des songes), this exhibition and sale features some fifty contemporary paintings characterized by predominantly abstract outlines, complex geometric shapes, and deep symbolic and mythological density.
Adopting an artistic approach that blends abstraction with cubist ornamentation, Mustapha Boucenna’s works feature a varied color palette with a harmonious contrast between warm and cold tones. His paintings also include motifs and stylized silhouettes depicting characters inspired by global literature and cinema.
Created in large format using mixed techniques—notably oil and acrylic—his canvases offer a modern touch, radiating visual poetry and nostalgia, as seen in works like "To a Banjo Tune," "Algiers Melody," "Andalusian Night," "Consolation," and "The Exodus."
Through his canvases, the artist also explores themes such as liberty in "Breath of Liberty," unity in "The Wedding," and nature in "Horses of the Wind," creating a fusion between universal cultural heritage and an original contemporary aesthetic.
"My paintings are a reflection of what I feel and see. When painting, I strive to move away from academic codes to favor complex shapes and fantastic symbols inspired by human heritage," the artist explained.
A graduate of the National School of Fine Arts in Algiers, the 57-year-old Mustapha Boucenna has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Algeria and abroad for nearly forty years.
In addition to fine art painting, Boucenna teaches at the Technological Institute for Teacher Training. He also creates book covers and illustrations for children, alongside writing articles and critical studies in the artistic field.
The exhibition "The Memory of Dreams" is on display until May 30 at the Sofitel Hotel in Algiers.
