Timeless Look At Djerbahood

Mediterranea's Universal, Open-Air Art Gallery

Photo credit: Philippe Zordan

The island of Djerba, a beach lover’s paradise with its wild, sweeping sandy shores, is known as the island of dreams, flanking the sparkling Tunisian coastline and guarding an unexpected treasure. Concealed in the modest yet picturesque whitewashed village of Erriadh is a remarkable collection of contemporary urban artwork, woven throughout the surfaces of homes and passageways in this historic community.

This small, unassuming village is home to ‘Djerbahood,’ an open-air art gallery established in 2014. The aesthetic Erriadh features 250 murals, ranging from simple painted pottery to vast, timeless political statements addressing global issues. The project initially attracted 130 artists from 30 countries, and even in 2023, nearly a decade after the first artworks were created, the fading marks of the artists persist.

The island of Djerba, a beach lover’s paradise with its wild, sweeping sandy shores, is known as the island of dreams, flanking the sparkling Tunisian coastline and guarding an unexpected treasure. Concealed in the modest yet picturesque whitewashed village of Erriadh is a remarkable collection of contemporary urban artwork, woven throughout the surfaces of homes and passageways in this historic community.

This small, unassuming village is home to ‘Djerbahood,’ an open-air art gallery established in 2014. The aesthetic Erriadh features 250 murals, ranging from simple painted pottery to vast, timeless political statements addressing global issues. The project initially attracted 130 artists from 30 countries, and even in 2023, nearly a decade after the first artworks were created, the fading marks of the artists persist.

Djerbahood is a large-scale street art project curated by Mehdi Ben Sheikh, a Tunisian-French artist dedicated to uplifting and promoting street artists. Ben Sheikh, founder and director of Galerie Itinerrance, a Paris-based contemporary art gallery, had previously organized large-scale art projects such as La Tour Paris 13, where 108 artists adorned a soon-to-be-demolished building. The aim was to blend street art with the village’s traditional architecture, creating a unique experience. Villagers who “donated” walls to the project ended up with colorful murals.

Mehdi Ben Sheikh named the project “Djerbahood,” inspired by a Hollywood-like sign spelling out “THE HOOD” installed by French artist Rodolphe Cintorino at the entrance of Erriadh.

As one of the largest permanent street art projects in the world, Djerbahood has attracted hundreds of artists over the past decade. These artists hail from countries such as Saudi Arabia, France, Poland, Spain, Belgium, and Tunisia. Personally approved by Ben Sheikh, the Djerbahood scenes are vibrant, poignant, and thoughtful, showcasing a wide range of cultural perspectives enthusiastically welcomed by the residents.

The Djerbahood street art spectacle has been transformational for the small Tunisian village of Erriadh. The village is now frequented by tourists, exposing the community to a diverse array of visitors. Speaking with the New York Times at the inception of the venture, Abdelkadar, a shopkeeper in Erriadh, highlighted the benefits:

"On my way home, I often stop to speak to the artists who tell me a little bit of their story. Art is important; it encourages us to stay open to others, to other cultures, and I am grateful to this project because it has allowed me to meet people from all over the world, to travel, and best of all, to open my mind."

How was Erriadh chosen in the first place?

Erriadh (also known as Er-Riadh or Hara Sghira Er Riadh), a traditional 2000-year-old community, is renowned for housing North Africa’s oldest synagogue, La Ghriba, a historic pilgrimage site. However, in 2010, the instability caused by the Arab Spring left the Mediterranean island of Djerba suffering from a lack of administrative management. Problems such as waste disposal became significant, reducing the tourist appeal of settlements like Erriadh and limiting their exposure to the outside world.

Erriadh was specifically chosen for Djerbahood due to its traditional architecture, featuring brilliant white houses and distinctly Tunisian cubiform design buildings. It is also one of the oldest villages in Tunisia, where Jews, Muslims, and Christians have coexisted for centuries, forming a millennia-old multicultural society.

Ben Sheikh told The New York Times he believes that street art, as an art form, "transcends style and space" and expressed a desire to undertake a project in Tunisia. He selected Erriadh due to "the natural beauty of the village" that "provides the artists with a unique canvas."

In Erriadh, both the village mayor and individual homeowners had to give explicit permission before the project could proceed. Although initially reluctant, the citizens soon embraced the concept, allowing their properties, mailboxes, steps, and white-washed alleys to be used as canvases for artists from around the world.

Photo credit: Hesham El Badry

Djerbahood is a large-scale street art project curated by Mehdi Ben Sheikh, a Tunisian-French artist dedicated to uplifting and promoting street artists. Ben Sheikh, founder and director of Galerie Itinerrance, a Paris-based contemporary art gallery, had previously organized large-scale art projects such as La Tour Paris 13, where 108 artists adorned a soon-to-be-demolished building. The aim was to