Shroud

Shroud, 1999

White Flag (2.50 m x 1.50 m)

The creation of this work in 1999, presented at a group exhibition in Ghent, is set against the troubled backdrop of Algeria’s dark decade, a period characterized by extreme violence and profound trauma. This entirely white flag, designed by the artist, transcends mere national symbolism to become a powerful vessel of memory and suffering.

Through the choice of immaculate monochromy, the artist evokes the shrouds of the victims of the civil war, a conflict often described as a « war without images » by historians, as noted by historian Benjamin Stora, highlighting the absence of visual representation of the atrocities committed. This aesthetic is not trivial; it challenges the viewer to confront the notion of human loss, transforming white into a silent scream of pain and resilience in the face of horror.

The work bears witness to the invisible scars that remain deeply embedded in the collective memory of Algeria, as observed by historian Mohammed Harbi, who documented the indelible traces left by this period in the national consciousness. In summary, this piece invites a necessary reflection on the tragic consequences of conflicts and the quest for reconciliation in a society still marked by its history.