> About the exhibition  

Reviving and exploring the flora of Gabes, historically recognized as the paradise of the world and Ifriquia's second-largest capital depending upon vegetation, Ragata…The Silk Route exhibition investigates and opens the call for visitors to reconsider Gabes’ plants' richness for a better sustainable future.

Within a journey of carefully collecting plants, cutting fibers, smoothing pulps to the sun drying with the use of traditional materials and techniques, Mohamed Amine Hamouda experiments and probs different native and introduced plants such as henna, mulukhiyah, banana, bu hatam palm ( حطم بو نخل ) and cogongrass ( حلفا )which are implanted either in Gabes’ urban city and in the orchards of the Oasis to make and create artworks made by one of the oldest mediums, paper.

Launching the call for Gabes’ habitants to work collaboratively and rethink the local unique patrimony, the Ragata exhibition invites visitors to explore the possibilities of Gabes’ flora.

> About Mohamed Amine Hamouda

Born in Gabes, Tunisia, Mohamed Amine Hamouda is a visual artist, scenographer and university teacher at the Higher Institute of Arts and Crafts in Gabes. 

In recent years, he has focused on experimental research that consists of exploiting what Mother Earth offers us, through her pigments and coloured fibres, breaking with everything industrial and chemical. He makes his dyes and papers from natural plant elements only. Since 2010, he has been exhibiting in Tunisia and abroad in group exhibitions (Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Kuwait...) and has been welcomed in artist residencies. 

Three solo exhibitions: "Transcendance" in 2016 in Gabes, "À fleur de Papier" in 2018 in Elbirou, Sousse and "Transe-Papier" in 2019 at the gallery of the Higher Institute of Arts and Crafts in Gabes. 

Group exhibitions: "Will the 21st century be African?" in 2019, "TRIVIUM" in 2020, "You are the Dance" in 2021 at the Yosr BEN AMMAR Gallery. "L'espace de dedans" at the Aicha GORGI Gallery in 2021.

Mohamed Amine HAMOUDA received the 1st prize of the Festimed Hammamet festival in 2007 as well as the 2nd prize of the Biennial of Arab artists in Kowait in 2019.