Les Attributs de la Culture Tunisienne (1970) by ABDELAZIZ GORGIDalloul Art Foundation
Gorgi's work aims to celebrate Tunisian culture through his work. Coming from a family of artisans, Gorgi integrated elements from the traditional Tunisian craftsmanship in this work such as the fish which is also called "houta" much employed in the traditional making of jewellery and which symbolises chance and prosperity.
In the lower center of the composition we can also see the motif of the "khamsa" which is commonly used as a talisman in the countries of North Africa and in the Middle East to protect from the evil eye. it has been reported that these two motifs find their origins in the Phoenician beliefs as they are related to the goddess of fertility called Tanit.
The body features of the characters illustrated in this scene recall the aesthetics of ancient arts featuring the almond shapes and the very simplified lines of the bodies. Gorji created a dreamlike world which embodies the rich artistic heritage of Tunisia which has lasted to this day.
