(COURTESY OF ERRACHID ALAOUI)

"I earned a Ph.D. in biology and clinical chemistry as my mother had wished me to, but deep down, I've always wanted to be an artist," said Nouria Alj Hakim, wife of Jaafar Alj Hakim, the Ambassador of Morocco to China, at her solo painting exhibition, which was held at the Beijing Imperial City Art Museum (BICAM) from June 1-3.

"Consequently, painting became my second way of expressing myself, a tool for my commitment and a means for communication," Mrs. Hakim said.

Her exhibition, entitled "Imprints of Cultures," offered an opportunity for cultural and artistic exchanges between the Moroccan and the Chinese peoples. Most of her works were completed during her three-year stay in Beijing after coming to China with her husband in 2009. "The Chinese step," Hakim said, "culturally and socially rich, has confirmed my passion."

"I am fascinated with many aspects of Chinese culture, such as traditional architecture, music, ink painting and Chinese medicine," Hakim said. "I had learned brush painting for five years during my husband's previous posting to Asia."

"Painting is an important part of my life. I learned to paint when I was 7 years old," Hakim said in an interview with Beijing Review at her residence in Beijing, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in China.

Hakim has always been interested in China, which is deemed to be one of the most ancient civilizations. The diplomatic life of travel enriches her paintings, which reflect her stays in numerous countries. She takes elements of diverse cultural forms and applies them to her works.

Ten years ago, Hakim's husband was appointed ambassador to South Korea. Hakim moved to Seoul, where she first encountered some of the Chinese traditions spread to the Korean Peninsula, including ink painting and calligraphy. She was impressed by the arts, and took it upon herself to learn Chinese painting and calligraphy.

She then combined the techniques of Western and Chinese ink painting into her works. In her view, there are many common characteristics in both Impressionism and ink painting. The two styles don't seek detailed shapes of subjects, preferring instead to find artistic beauty as perceived by the painter.

"Painting, like other forms of art, has its own rules, proven techniques and schools. Nonetheless, it remains open to all kinds of innovations and individualities," she said.

For instance, Hakim painted bamboo, a popular theme in many Chinese ink paintings, by applying her innovative techniques. She painted bamboo in black ink on a canvas instead of on the Chinese rice paper. Such combination makes the color of the bamboo more distinct. The bamboo on canvas look firmer and more life-like than those painted on the Chinese rice paper.

"Painting influenced me in many stages of my life. Almost 20 years ago, I found in painting a new dimension which liberated me from my feelings, my thoughts and my ideas," she said. Morocco is located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Arab world. Living in the cross-cultural environment between Arabic and Western influences, there is a unique blend of artistic styles in Hakim's oil paintings.

"Hakim pays much attention to a perfect coordination between the real and the abstract," said Wang Peng, professor of School of Arts of Renmin University of China. "The super-realistic and sophisticated design agrees with traditional Chinese art. Hakim's paintings are featured with Chinese elements and Western expressions. The cross-culture blend in her paintings brings a fresh experience for visitors," Wang added.

Female focus

The female form is at the center of Hakim's paintings. "She emerges from my subconscious. Every painting is an adventure which provides me with immense emotions," she said.

The women in her paintings are often highlighted by bright colors and elegant figures.

"People can feel the passion and boundless imagination through Hakim's paintings," said Li Yan, Director of Art of BICAM.

For example, The Brides, a painting by Mrs. Hakim, draws the portraits of two brides who come individually from Morocco and China. Despite their different costumes and customs, they both look happy and fulfilled, Li said.

Hakim speaks highly of Chinese women for their independence and important place in the Chinese society. "I would like to underline the role Chinese women have played in the modernization of China," Hakim said. "They are able to compete with men, and they sometimes even do jobs that are supposed to be men's."

Hakim herself is a capable woman. As a diplomat's wife, she is often involved in diplomatic activities to promote people's understanding of Morocco and its culture. She hopes to play a role in solidifying the friendship between the Moroccan and the Chinese peoples.

Her love for painting is lifelong, though it has not always been her life's work. Hakim's roles include far more than an artist and the wife of a respectable diplomat. She is an active member of NGOs in the field of charity and an international consultant for United Nations Development Program and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

Of the expat life in Beijing, she expresses happiness and vibrancy. "There is a blend of nationalities in Beijing, which offers a dynamic feeling with a diversity of cultures," Hakim said.