During the May Day holiday, taking a stroll by the canal and visiting the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum to experience an exotic art exhibition might be a good choice.

Nouri Mohamed, an artist from Morocco, the Pearl of North Africa, brings the vast world from across the ocean through his oil paintings. Street scenes of Casablanca, Moroccan tea and coffee, and the famous courtyard charm. These artworks, full of exotic flavor, will take you closer to a distant and desirable place.

The exhibition hall is divided into three main themes: Urban Scenery, Moments of Life, and Courtyard Views.

As soon as you approach the exhibition hall, an exotic atmosphere greets you.

Casablanca is a name familiar to many. This 'White City' of North Africa became world-famous because of the movie 'Casablanca.'

However, Casablanca's real name is 'Dar El Beida,' established as early as 1770, which means 'white house.' Locally, the most famous scenery is the vast area of white houses facing the sea. In artist Nouri's paintings, besides the white houses, you will also see another side of the city, with both densely packed buildings and vivid records of street corners.

A Scene from a Street Corner in Casablanca

At the exhibition hall, many young people were holding cameras, looking for angles to take pictures in front of the paintings. One young man pointed to a panoramic view of the buildings and said, "I really like this one. It has a very immersive feeling, like finding an angle to take a picture and merging myself into the painting."

Additionally, the exhibited paintings include the old city of Tangier, located in northern Morocco, and cityscapes of Tetouan and other cities.

Tetouan Cityscape

Besides urban scenery, there are also many still life paintings at the exhibition. A cup of fragrant mint tea, rich black coffee, and a bouquet of brightly colored flowers all exude the vibrant everyday life of North Africa.

Still Life

It's important to know that tea is an essential part of Moroccan social life, especially mint tea. Whenever guests visit, serving a cup of mint tea is an indispensable etiquette. Black coffee is also a part of the Moroccan morning ritual. Therefore, on the tables in the still life paintings, tea cups and coffee cups can be seen everywhere.

Still Life

Morocco is an African country close to Europe. The Atlas Mountains, which run diagonally across the country, block the hot waves from the Sahara Desert in the south, making Morocco's climate pleasant year-round. The country is lush with flowers and trees and has picturesque scenery, earning it the nickname "The Garden of North Africa." Moroccan courtyards have always been a favorite subject for painters.

Courtyards

During the exhibition, many people were deeply attracted by the vividly colored courtyards.

The central courtyard, surrounded by palm trees, features one of Morocco's iconic architectural elements—a fountain pool made of bright mosaics. Along with the orange and lemon trees planted in the courtyard, it creates a refreshing atmosphere of Morocco, known as the "cool land under the scorching sun."

Water Lilies

A journalist from Chaoxin News was particularly attracted to a painting of water lilies, captivated by the reflection of the blue sky. Is this intense blue a true depiction or just the artist's imagination?

One of the curators, Professor Zheng Mei, a visiting professor at the School of Humanities and Arts at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, explained, "It's real; the sky in Morocco is indeed this blue.

Nouiri (third from the right)

Regarding the creator of the artworks, artist Nouri, Zheng Mei revealed that Nouri was born in Morocco and has had a passion for art since childhood. Having painted for decades, he has developed his own style and is also highly skilled in sculpture. Some of his classic works have won awards and are collected by royal families in Spain and elsewhere. "Nouri's work has a very pleasant color palette. Its brightness gives a feeling of sunlight on the skin, bringing a sense of peace. It's definitely worth admiring."

Taking advantage of the May Day holiday, why not bring your family and friends to visit the Arts and Crafts Museum?

At this exhibition, there is also an interactive painting experience area set up at the exit of the hall. If you're interested, feel free to pick up an oil pastel to copy or create freely.

Exhibition Name: Messengers from Across the Ocean – An Exhibition of Oil Paintings by Nouri Mohamed

Exhibition Dates: From now until May 21

Exhibition Location: Temporary Exhibition Hall, 2nd Floor, Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum

“the source.”