The third edition of the Carthage Days of Contemporary Art began yesterday, Friday, at the City of Culture (Chadli Klibi) in the capital of Tunisia, featuring the participation of 150 Tunisian visual artists and 52 foreign artists from 23 countries, including Palestine, which is this year's "guest of honor."
Event director Samira Turki highlighted that the choice of Palestine as the "guest of honor" carries symbolic support and recognition, stating, "A special pavilion has been dedicated to showcasing the artworks of Palestinian artists and celebrating the delegation from the Palestinian territories."
The new edition will run until May 30 under the slogan "Art as a Path," featuring hundreds of artworks, including paintings and sculptures from Tunisia and abroad.
Asaad Said, director of the office of the Minister of Cultural Affairs, expressed that the current edition of the Carthage Days of Contemporary Art represents a return to life and art after a hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He emphasized that this event highlights an area in which Tunisia excels, showcasing the richness and uniqueness of the Tunisian experience in the field of visual arts.
He praised the international participation and its role in enhancing the exchange of distinguished artistic experiences and in introducing the Tunisian experience in the realm of visual arts, noting that the ministry supports such artistic occasions in belief of the importance of the messages they convey.
The program of the edition includes seminars and discussions addressing "The Concept of Individualism in Contemporary Art" and "Copyright," and an exhibition will take place at the Dar al-Funun in Belvedere, featuring paintings by prominent figures of the Tunis School, being displayed for the first time.
The "Tunis School of Visual Art" has been chosen as the focal point for discussions and dialogues, starting tomorrow, Saturday, with the participation of prominent critics and painters like Habib Bida and Hussein Talili and Samir Turkie.
This edition also honors the late Tunisian fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa (1935-2017), who designed outfits for many celebrities including Michelle Obama, Janet Jackson, and Nancy Ajram.
