Formed at the Haute École des Arts du Rhin (HEAR, 2015), Ouissem Moalla (born in 1990 in Stockholm) explores themes of space and memory in his work, drawing inspiration from the research of historian Frances A. Yates. He draws from popular and literary culture, myths, and major texts, with language as a recurring thread. This takes shape through performances, installations, and paintings in which he questions space, our relationship to places, cosmogony, and beliefs.

Whether in Mulhouse, where his studio is located, or during residencies (Motoco&co Tokyo 2018; CEEAC - Basis E.v. Frankfurt 2023; Villa Salammbô Institut français Tunisia 2024), he works with the remnants of industrial ruins (G.O.L.D, 2017), explores myths and representations of urban gateways (Impressions d’Espaces, 2024), wanders around a Shinto shrine carrying chairs strapped to his back to form the character 目 (mù / eye) (Monkey, 2018), or reinterprets mystical texts by intertwining language and the body (Clavis Tabula, 2023). His work, enriched by multicultural influences, flirts with the human and social sciences, questioning archives and communities.

Ouissem Moalla classifies his works into «series», each forming a universe that he continuously expands with new projects exploring the same themes.

Residency showcase of our duo PROCESSUS (Moalla & Descamps) at Villa Salammbô of the French Institute of Tunisia, on December 21, 2024, in Sousse.

Some photos from the opening of our residency showcase at Villa Salammbô, taken by Karima LAOUITI (ISBAS).

 

You can also find an article about our project at Villa Salammbô on LaPresse.tn by Asma DRISSI:  "Impressions d'Espaces":  à la croisée des seuils et des mémoires urbaines (French)

 

As well as an interview on the Tunis Afrique Presse Agency portal by Sarra BELGUITH:

O.Moalla et J.Descamps: "Impressions d’Espaces" est un projet hybride art-science autour des portes des médinas de Tunis, Sfax et Sousse qui a nourri l’idée du « Livre des Portes » (Interview) (French)