Art Exhibit
Marwen El Hicheri "Mani"
ARTIST STATEMENT
This show marks a personal milestone—my first exhibition in five years—and a return to the rhythms of painting after a long period of quiet observation and internal work. Most of the pieces are acrylics on canvas, with a few works incorporating mixed media. Together, they reflect a layered exploration of people, emotion, society and the spaces in between.
During my time away from exhibiting, my process became more intuitive and reflective. These paintings are the result of that shift. I’ve focused on texture, color, and gesture as a way to map internal landscapes, letting each canvas unfold its own story through mood and material.
Each piece in this exhibition reflects a moment of that internal dialogue—a snapshot of thought shaped by personal experiences and broader cultural conversations. I'm allowing the viewer to complete the narrative with their own interpretations. This show is an invitation to pause, question, and look beneath the surface.
As I continue to evolve as an artist, I remain curious about the shifting relationships between self and world, object and viewer, silence and expression. Thank you for engaging with the work and bringing your own presence to the conversation
The work is not meant to offer answers, but rather to hold space—for questions, contradictions, and quiet moments of recognition. Showing it in a space like NoRa Café, where art meets everyday life, feels especially meaningful. I hope these pieces invite you to slow down, look closer, and perhaps see something of your own reflection in them.
ARTIST BIO
Born and raised in Tunisia, Marwen “Mani” carries a rich cultural heritage that deeply informs his artistic practice. A deep connection to North African culture, history, and storytelling—elements that continue to shape their artistic vision. After spending formative years in France, where his style evolved through exposure to a broad spectrum of European art, he moved to North Carolina in 1994 for the first of many exhibitions in the United States.
Strongly inspired by the great masters—Dalí, Malevich, Klee, Klimt, Basquiat, Warhol, Haring and Kandinsky—his work blends surrealism, abstraction, symbolism, a bit of pop art, graffiti and modernist experimentation. This diverse influence results in a bold, personal visual language that explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural hybridity.
Over the years, Mani has exhibited internationally, gaining recognition for a style that bridges continents, histories, and artistic traditions. Mani has also dabbled in photography and is known for writing poetry that he only shares with those closest to him.
