Rabat – Moroccan artist Hajar Lmortaji is presenting a new exhibition titled “Horizons Croisés” (Crossed Horizons) at the National Gallery Bab Rouah in Rabat. The show, which opened on Friday and runs through May 31, brings together abstract works inspired by the cities of Rabat and Lisbon.
The exhibition aims to explore what connects the two capitals, drawing on shared cultural elements, personal experiences, and visual symbols. Lmortaji uses abstraction to represent emotional and symbolic themes, including human presence, memory, and dream-like states.
According to the artist, the exhibition reflects impressions and feelings shaped by time spent in both cities. In a statement to the Moroccan news agency MAP, she said the works were guided by lived experiences, such as listening to fado music in Lisbon or walking under jacaranda trees in Rabat.
Her paintings incorporate floral forms, fragments of human figures, and textures that suggest both emotion and structure.
One recurring motif is the azulejo, the traditional ceramic tile found throughout Portuguese architecture. Lmortaji describes it as a “thread” linking her work to Lisbon, evoking patience, craftsmanship, and place-based memory.
While grounded in abstraction, the exhibition hints at a broader interest in how cities shape artistic expression and personal identity. The works do not directly depict either Rabat or Lisbon but instead attempt to translate emotional and cultural similarities into visual form.
“I simply let my emotions guide my creation,” she said, noting that the exhibition is my way of sharing those feelings with the public and showing the deep connection between these two cities.
Lmortaji is a self-taught artist who paints as a form of personal expression and therapy. Born in Rabat and a Ph.D. holder from the University of Lisbon, she began painting as a child and developed her own unique style over time.
She focuses on abstract and figurative expressionism, using colors and emotions to guide her work.
