LIVING ART GALLERY

Living Art Gallery is an exciting art space in the burgeoning central Sydney arts precinct.

1 Meagher Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008 Australia.

Tel/Fax; 61 2 96983310.

Living Art Gallery welcomes interest from artists involved in any form of contemporary work

The gallery space [8.5m x 6 m] is suffused with natural light by day augmented by an adjustable halogen track system, providing a welcoming display for any type of artwork. The large floor space is ideal for 3D displays.

MASMOUDI ARTWORKS

MASMOUDI

Masmoudi is a celebrated Tunisian artist and art teacher. He studied at the Le Beaux Arts (Fine Art School) Tunis, The Faculty Des Beaux Arts (Faculty of Fine Art) Damascus University and Les Beaux Arts de Paris and The Sorbonne (Fine Art) Paris. He then studied Moorish Art and taught in Morocco for three years. He came to Australia in 1980 and became a citizen in 1982. He has had exhibitions of his work at The Fine Art Gallery, Paris; David Jones Gallery, Sydney; David Reed Gallery, Sydney; New South Wales Art Gallery; Gallery Yahia (Tunis, Tunisia);Gallery Ibnokaldoun {Tunis,Tunisia}; Gallery Ibnorashiq {Tunis,Tunisia}; Regional Art Gallery Kairouan Tunisia Gallery of Fine Arts (Sfax, Tunisia) and the Yaha Ibnomar Gallery (Sousse, Tunisia); Alliance Francaise, Sydney; Parramatta Heritage Centre, Parramatta; Paddington Uniting Church, Sydney; Kiama Art Centre and the Mosman Gallery. He has been part of group exhibitions at The Museum of Damascus; Maison de la Tunisie, Paris; Salon d’Automne au Grand Palais, Paris; Salon des Arts in Mekness, Morocco; Perspecta New South Wales Art Gallery and Domotex Hannovre, Germany amongst others

Selected Bibliographies:

Bernice Murphy - Australian Perspecta 1983 (catalogue) Art Gallery of New South Wales - Sydney 1983

Terence Maloon - Good Weekend: Art and Entertainment - The Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 14 May 1983

Tony Bond - Special Events - Art Gallery of New South Wales - The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 September 1984

Raja Ben Khemisa: “Le Tapis Dans Toute Sa Splendeur“ in Le Renouveau - 17 December 1996, Tunis

G. Thomas - Living Art (Catalogue) - November 1996, Sydney

Omar Khamsi: “Research in Geometric Art Forms” in Lapresse Cultural - 15 January 1997, Tunis

Hoda Dagary: “The Beauty of Our Culture” in Morning Weekly Press - 13 January 1997, Tunis

Raja Ben Khemisa: “Quand La Modernite Epouse La Tradition” in Le Renouveau - 12 January 1997, Tunis

Alya: “Le Peintre Aux Semelles de Vent” in La Presse Culturelle - 9 January 1997, Tunis

Fathi Chargui: “A La Recherche des Tresors du Patrimoine” in Le Temps Culturelle - 10 January 1997, Tunis

Hichem Benzarty: “Aus Sources du Patrimoine” in Le Presse - 8 May 1997, Souse Tunisia

Hedid Barakes: “Tel un Chan Soufi Tissages Modernes” in Le Removeau - 12 May 1999

Mofida Ben Ibramhim: “Vision Moderne Dans Le Tapis Tunisien” in La Presse - 5 October 1999, Tunis

G. Thomas: “Culture and Form” (Catalogue) - December 2000

Sue Hicks: “Carpet Art with a Modern Twist” in Mosman Weekly - 1 March 2002

El -Telegraphe: "Masmoudi holds an exhibition in Chippendale", July 2003

Monica Heary “Colours ,carpets Inspire" Parramatta-Sun, October 2004

Noel Hodda:” Masmoudi” ( Catalogue) March 2005

CMASMOUDI ARTWORK

Masmoudi’s artwork is inspired by the ancient Moorish mosaics. These patterns were passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years and are still in use today. The work antecedents appear as ceramic decorations and on carpets, friezes and fabrics that are part of the everyday life of the people. Its appearance today is a direct link and reminder of the art in everyday use in Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and other North African countries

The work continues the artist’s lifelong examination of and fascination with colour and form through the ancient textures and modern execution of mosaic, be it in the form of painting, drawing, carpet design or large scale installation

MASMOUDI CARPETS ART WORK

About Masmoudi carpets: Modern art forms and their cultural relationship with the past have always fascinated Masmoudi.

Whilst studying and investigating early Tunisian carpet he found that much of the richness of this art heritage had been assimilated into Western art. Thus he began an artistic strategy of reinvigoration of both new and old art forms, one which could capture or retain the essence of the artistic heritage present there and rework it in a different, exciting and contemporary context.

The manifestation of this ongoing process is the production of carpets, works of sublime beauty that forge a link between the decorative and the practical and the expression of heritage and modernity in one object.

Masmoudi started his carpet workshop at Kairouan, Tunisia, in 1995. His carpets exclusively use New Zealand wool, and are hand woven by the people of Kairouan

In the mid nineteenth, century Kairouan carpet (Zarbia) gave the appearance of an imitation of Anatolian carpets and became a major household industry of world repute. Masmoudi today has re-invigorated the carpet art of this area to once again place it at the centre of originality and beauty.

Carpets featured in Vogue Living Australia article ‘True Colors’ September/October 2005 www.vogue.com.au

All carpets are certified top quality hand knotted in Kairouan (Tunisia)

Pile 100% pure New Zealand wool

Designed and signed by the artist Masmoudi (MTM)