M'hamed Issiakhem (17 June 1928 – 1 December 1985) is one of the founders of the modern

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

Biography

M'hamed Issiakhem born on 17 June 1928 in Taboudoucht, a small village near

Azeffoun Azeffoun, the classical Rusazus and colonial PortGueydon, is a town and commune in Tizi Ouzou Province in northern Algeria, located on Cape Corbelin north-east of Tizi Ouzou. The economy of the town of Azeffoun is based on tourism, fishing, and a ...

, around 43 kilometers from

Tizi Ouzou Tizi Ouzou or Thizi Wezzu (, Kabyle: Tizi Wezzu) is a city in north central Algeria. It is among the largest cities in Algeria. It is the second most populous city in the Kabylie region after Bejaia. History Etymology The name ''Tizi Ouzou' ...

(

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

). In 1931 his family moved to

Relizane Relizane or Ghilizan (Arabic language, Arabic: غلیزان; Berber language, Berber: Ɣilizan) is a city in Algeria. It is the capital city of Relizane Province. Toponymy The name of Relizane comes from the Berber ⵉⵖⵉⵍ ⵉⵣⵣⴰⵏ ...

where he spent most of his childhood. In 1943 he handled a stolen grenade, from a French military camp, which exploded. Two sisters and a nephew of his died. Hospitalized for two years, he lost his left arm. Between 1947 and 1951 he was in the Student Society of Fine Arts at the School of Fine Arts of Algiers and followed the courses of miniaturiste Omar Racim. Between 1953 and 1958 he attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris. Issiakhem in 1958 left France to

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, and then to

East Germany East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

where he had been established until the

Algerian independence An independence referendum was held in French Algeria on 1 July 1962. It followed French approval of the Évian Accords in an April referendum. Voters were asked whether Algeria should become an independent state, co-operating with France; 99.72 ...

In 1962, Issiakhem returned to Algeria, where he was the cartoonist of the daily ''Alger Republicain''. In 1963 he was one of the founding member of the National Union of Plastic Arts. From 1964 to 1966 he was head of painting workshop at the School of Fine Arts in Algiers, counting among his pupils

Ksenia Milicevic Ksenia Milicevic (born September 15, 1942) is a French painter, architect and town planner. She is based in Paris, with a studio in Bateau-Lavoir in Montmartre and also maintains a base in South West France. Life Ksenia Milicevic was born in ...

, then director at the ''Ecole des Beaux-Arts of

Oran Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...

''. From 1965 to 1982 he created models of the Algerian bank notes as well as many Algerians stamps. He traveled to

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

in 1972 and in 1973 received a gold medal at the International Fair of Algiers for his work on the stand of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. From 1973 to 1978 Issiakhem returned to caricatures. In 1977 he ran the realization of a fresco at the

Algiers Airport Houari Boumediene International Airport ( ar, مطار هواري بومدين الدولي, Maṭār Hawwārī Būmadyan al-Duwaliyy) , also known as Algiers Airport or Algiers International Airport, is the main international airport serving A ...

. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs published a brochure in Algiers which

Kateb Yacine Kateb Yacine (; 2 August 1929 or 6 August 1929 – 28 October 1989) was an Algerian writer notable for his novels and plays, both in French and Algerian Arabic, and his advocacy of the Berber cause. Biography Kateb Yacine was officially b ...

wrote the preface under the title ''Issiakhem's lynx Eyes and Americans, thirty-five years of hell of a painter.'' Issiakhem received in 1980 the first Golden Lion of Rome, of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

for African Art. He died on 1 December 1985 following a long illness.

Tribute

On 17 June 2018,

Google Doodle A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepages intended to commemorate holidays, events, achievements, and notable historical figures. The first Google Doodle honored the 1998 edition of the long-running an ...

commemorated Issiakhem's 90th birthday.

References

External links

M’Hamed Issiakhem

Bibliography

* Acheur Cheurfi, Bibliographical Dictionary of Algeria * Médiène, Benamar. ''M'hamed Issiakhem : ma main au feu-- portrait à l'encre''. Alger : Casbah Éditions, 2022 (ISBN : 9789947623299) 1928 births 1985 deaths 20th-century Algerian painters Kabyle people People from Tizi Ouzou {{Africa-painter-stub