The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF) opens its Autumn 2025 season on the vibrant Saadiyat Island, a hub for art and culture in Abu Dhabi, with a dynamic programme of exhibitions. Amongst which is a dedicated Nja Mahdaoui retrospective, exploring the work of the Tunisian multimedia artist, who is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in Arab modern art.
Titled Nja Mahdaoui: The Choreographer of Letters, the exhibition runs from 24 October 2025 to 25 January 2026. Co-curated by Dr Michaela Watrelot, BFAF’s Head Curator and Director of Exhibitions and the artist’s daughter, Molka Mahdaoui, the retrospective brings together a diverse collection of nearly 30 works, including paintings, sculptures and prints.
This unique variety allows visitors to experience the evolution of Mahdaoui's art. From early compositions of the Concretion series (1971) to mixed media pieces such as Untitled 3 from the Azimuth series (2012), the exhibition traces how Mahdaoui transformed Arabic calligraphy into a contemporary visual language that is dynamic, abstract and universal in its rhythm.
Often described as a “choreographer of letters,” Mahdaoui is widely recognised for his pioneering role in the development of calligraphic abstraction, freeing the letter from its linguistic constraints to reveal its endless creative potential.
The exhibition bridges both tradition and modernity, exploring how Mahdaoui’s calligraphic abstraction has shaped global perceptions of Arab art. Bringing together notions of identity and heritage, it celebrates his enduring legacy while reinforcing the BFAF’s role as a leading platform for Arab artistic excellence and cross-cultural dialogue.
“It is an honour to bring his retrospective to Saadiyat Island to celebrate his artistic legacy and cement our commitment to giving local audiences access to private art collections, with this collection from the Nja Mahdaoui Foundation. This is an unmissable exhibition for anyone interested in the MENA region’s culture and heritage”, says Dr Michaela.
The retrospective also carries personal resonance for Molka Mahdaoui. “It’s an honour to collaborate with the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation to present my father’s 60-year artistic legacy in the UAE, a country that has long supported his practice. The exhibition coincides with the launch of his catalogue raisonné by Rizzoli, the first ever dedicated to a Tunisian artist.”
Nja Mahdaoui: The Choreographer of Letters sits at the centre of BFAF’s new season, which also includes Constructing the Orient: Fragments of a Western Dream, Nat Bowen: Chromology, and The Art Circle Award: Story of a Dot.
Visit: Bassam Freiha Art Foundation
Mariam Khawer is a Dubai-based writer and PR professional whose work spans food, art, and travel across the region. When she isn’t chasing deadlines, she’s likely at a gallery opening, testing out a new restaurant, piecing together one of her mixed-media art projects or at home with her four cats, who keep her on her toes.
