Throughout his career, Nja Mahdaoui has always been passionate about experimenting with different medium: Vellum, canvas, papyrus, paper, tapestry, silkscreen, sculpture, drums, melamine, stained steel glass, architecture, planes, textile, embroidery, jewelry, graphic design, performances with dancers and musicians, collaborations with poets and novelists on artist’s books, as well as with fashion designers.
“Mahdaoui was never attracted to the traditional approach to calligraphy or painting. He never liked the ready-made ideas, discipline, methods or assigned tools of creation. Because he had no formal training in calligraphy, he insists on saying, “I am not a calligrapher”. He preferred unconventional tools: a cartographer’s, topographer’s or scientist’s tools; a feather or his own found objects for drawing and shaping. He likes to discover new tools all the time and always looking for new ways to execute and advance his work.”
Rose Issa, “A Choreographer of Letters”, in Jafr – The Alchemy of Signs, (Milan: Skira Editore, 2015), p. 8.
