Algerian visual artist Dr Houari Hammou masterfully blends two seemingly contrasting fields — mathematics and visual art — creating captivating works that highlight the precision and craftsmanship of his artistic talent.
Known to his admirers as ‘Hamid,’ Dr Hammou's paintings belong to the realist school, focusing primarily on landscapes and still life.
In an interview, Dr Hammou shared that his passion for art began in childhood, heavily influenced by his professional painter brother and a deep love for nature. Inspired by American artist Bob Ross, Dr Hammou recalled how his artistic journey took shape after attempting to recreate a landscape painting he admired at a friend's home. Although his first attempt lacked technical finesse, it ignited a lifelong desire to refine his skills.
Dr Hammou's creative process is rooted in three distinct stages. He begins by preparing the canvas, followed by meticulously planning and adjusting the painting’s dimensions — a step where his mathematical expertise plays a crucial role. He then proceeds to fill in the painting, typically using acrylics for their fast-drying properties.
"Mathematics plays a major role in mastering the drawing, starting with adjusting the dimensions," Dr Hammou explains. "It makes this task easier for me. While other artists can master dimensions through practice, my background in mathematics gives me a distinct advantage."
Dr Hammou confirms: “I am not saying that artists who did not receive training in mathematics cannot master the issue of dimensions in an artistic painting, but I believe that they know this through practice and careful observation.”
Drawing inspiration from nature, Dr Hammou reproduces the natural scenes he encounters daily, often catering to client requests for specific scenes, such as European windmills or floral bouquets. His body of work, which includes over 400 pieces, spans subjects from still life to architectural drawings, capturing the essence of Algeria’s rich cultural heritage, including the Casbah of Algiers and the alleys of Mostaganem, his hometown.
Although Dr Hammou occasionally ventures into abstract art, his true passion lies in depicting nature’s beauty, a reflection of the Creator's wondrous creations. "Nature captivates me with its beauty, and I try to reshape it in my artworks so it remains before the eye, speaking the language of colours and the paintbrush," he says.
This nature-loving artist relies on reproducing the natural scenes he encounters in his daily life. He also sometimes complies with the wishes of his clients, who sometimes request that he depict specific scenes, such as drawing windmills that are commonly found in the European environment, or drawing bouquets of different flowers. These are paintings that he is often asked to create to decorate shops, homes, or administrative offices.
Decorative paintings are an important aspect of this artist's daily life, but they are not limited to him. It is not surprising, given this situation, that his favourite colours are green and blue, because they are the colors of tree leaves and the blue of water and sky.
Born in 1976 in Mostaganem, Dr Hammou holds a PhD in mathematics and serves as a professor at Abdelhamid Ben Badis University. His artistic acclaim extends beyond Algeria, earning him recognition both domestically and internationally.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
