Exploring the concept of SCALE — size, proportion, rhythm, spatial relationship, expansion and compression, monumentality, intimacy, and the dialogue between letterform, surface, and site. A dialogue between two works created 32 years apart (1981–2013), across two centuries and exploring both contrasts and complementarities in material, color, scale, and spatial composition. The presentation encompasses Nja Mahdaoui’s practice, from his early, intricate works on parchment to the largest canvas he has ever produced (300 × 700 cm).

Major figure of Arab modern art, Nja Mahdaoui (b. 1937) is a Tunisian multimedia visual artist.

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Recognized internationally and known as the choreographer of letters, he played a pioneering role in the development of calligraphic abstraction. Deeply rooted in the Arab-Islamic culture, Mahdaoui transcends Arabic calligraphy into a visual and abstract contemporary art form to create a universal platform for intercultural dialogue and shared consciousness.

Ever expanding his calligraphic language, his singular approach allowed him to express the intrinsic, infinite aesthetic qualities of Arabic letters and continues to inspire generations of artists.

Spanning more than six decades, Mahdaoui’s relentless passion for research has driven him to experiment with an extraordinary range of media, from works on parchment and canvas to large-scale installations in major public spaces. His work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions across the MENA region, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and is represented in numerous private and public collections.