Najwa Rahm

Algeria – In a hall filled with light and colors, Algerian visual artist Chafika Fguir stands as a witness to a long journey of patience and quiet resistance. Her paintings are not merely works of art hung on walls; they are the biography of a woman who chose to postpone her dream for years before returning to it with stronger determination and deeper faith. In her latest exhibition, "The Spirit of Forms," at the Mofdi Zakaria Cultural Palace, Chafika displays not only paintings but an entire life of struggle, nostalgia, and rebirth.

The visual artist Chafika Fguir says, recalling her beginnings: "I obtained my diploma in 1985 from the Higher School of Fine Arts. After that, I worked as a high school teacher, then I put my professional life on hold to raise my children." The decision was a sacrifice imposed by the responsibilities of motherhood, but she never abandoned the belief that art would continue to reside silently within her.

After many years of interruption, she decided to reclaim her artistic self. She recounts that decisive moment with moving honesty: "After twenty years, I told my children: I will return. I went back to teaching at a private school, and I would paint and set my works aside." However, the real spark came from her son, who saw in her talent a project that should not remain hidden. She says with a smile: "One day, my son encouraged me and said: 'You must launch an exhibition.' And from there, the story began, and it bore fruit."

Her first exhibition was in 2013, followed by successive experiences and exhibitions until she reached this exhibition, which represents the culmination of her artistic and human journey. Chafika began her artistic journey with paintings of flowers and traditional costumes, then moved to the Casbah, before entering the world of abstraction and later diving into landscape painting. This diversity was not merely a shift between subjects but a constant search for the self and for the hidden meaning in things.

In her works, the Algerian woman appears powerfully – not only as an aesthetic element but as a symbol of memory, resilience, and identity. She explains her vision: "I chose the woman and traditional dress to show the richness of our heritage. There is the Algiers dress, the Annaba gown, the Kabyle dress… and even the haik and the woman veiled in the haik. Through them, I wanted to honor our mothers who preserved this tradition."

This celebration of women and heritage turns in her paintings into an act of cultural resistance against oblivion and a defense of Algerian identity in all its diversity and beauty. Her female figures are not merely painted faces; they are guardians of collective memory, carrying a full history of elegance, pride, and patience.

Chafika Fguir does not hide that the path of a woman artist was not easy, especially in a society where a woman is still always required to prove her right. She says: "Among the challenges facing women is the male‑dominated and authoritarian mentality. Personally, I struggled a lot to convince my husband. After several exhibitions, he eventually accepted it." Behind these words lies a silent battle she fought for her right to expression and creativity, without abandoning her family role or her convictions.

Despite all the difficulties, her relationship with teaching remained an essential part of her artistic mission. She currently works in a middle school and affirms enthusiastically: "Children are very interested in art and drawing. Many of the female students I taught before have joined the Higher School of Fine Arts." For her, art is not limited to the canvas; it extends to instilling confidence and beauty in the souls of new generations.

As for the message she wants to convey to women, it is clear, honest, and simple: "A woman must work hard for what she loves. If we love something, we must not give it up." Words that summarize the experience of a woman who returned to her dream after many years, proving that true passion never dies and that art can also be a form of liberation and personal triumph.

It is worth noting that the exhibition "The Spirit of Forms" is a visual art exhibition by Algerian artist Chafika Fguir, held in the "Baya" gallery at the Mofdi Zakaria Cultural Palace in Algiers from May 6 until May 30, featuring about 83 paintings that blend realism and abstraction.