Hatem El Mekki
Tunisian painter (1918–2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hatem El Mekki (May 16, 1918 – September 23, 2003) was a prominent Tunisian painter. He was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies, and died in Carthage in 2003.
Coin design for Tunisia (1988–1990)
Chinese-influenced aquarelle technique
Hatem El Mekki | |
|---|---|
 An example of Hatem El Mekki artwork | |
| Born | May 16, 1918 Batavia, Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia) |
| Died | September 23, 2003 (aged 85) Carthage, Tunisia |
| Education | Lycée Carnot de Tunis |
| Known for | Postage stamp designs for Tunisia (from 1957) Coin design for Tunisia (1988–1990) Chinese-influenced aquarelle technique |
| Style | Painting Watercolour Poster design Illustration |
| Awards | First Poster Prize, Paris (1947) |
From 1957, his artwork appeared on a large number of postage stamps of Tunisia. El Mekki drew the head of the coin used in Tunisia from 1988 to 1990.[1]
Education
El-Mekki arrived in Tunis in 1924 and studied at the Lycée Carnot de Tunis. During his time there, he developed a distinctive Chinese aquarelle (watercolour) technique, despite being unaware at the time of his partial Chinese heritage.[2]
Career
In 1947, El-Mekki received the First Poster Prize in Paris. During his time in Paris, El-Mekki associated with prominent art and literary figures, including Albert Camus (Nobel Prize in Literature laureate), philosopher Gaston Bachelard, Gertrude Stein, Daniel-Rops, and others. He also illustrated works by international authors from the United States, Australia, France, Scotland, and Germany.
