The ceremony, which was attended notably by the President of the National Assembly, Claude Bartolone, the French Minister of the City, Youth and Sports, Patrick Kanner and the Ambassador of Morocco in France Chakib Benmoussa was an opportunity to shed light on the artistic journey of Hassane Naftaouaih and his humanist commitment to peace, sharing and exchange between cultures.

The exhibition focuses on the works of Naftaouaih from the private collection of his companion, Marie-José Dussaud, and shows the abundant creativity of this artist, born in Morocco becoming one of the most important representatives of the Moroccan painting in France.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Bartolone honored the memory of an artist who, "through his paintings, gives us the joy of life while passing messages of peace and brotherhood among peoples, mainly reflecting the bonds of friendship between Morocco and France. "

The works of Hassane Naftaouaih prove how "culture can be a message of hope and a way to fight against all those who want to exacerbate the differences," he said, noting that the exhibition shows how “individually and collectively we can enrich our differences. "

For his part, Mr. Benmoussa praised the late Hassane Naftaouaih, "one of the most sensitive and committed voices to the visual arts in Morocco and France and one of the painters who marked the Moroccan painting in France. "

He further recalled the primary role of art and culture in the reconciliation and understanding between nations, like the two major exhibitions that have recently been devoted to Morocco in Paris.

Hassane Naftaouaih left Morocco in 1975 to move to France and enter a school of fine arts, and lived from 1981 to 1985 in Tahiti and Costa Rica before returning to France to settle in Lille.

A Humanist involved in many causes, he has worked to make art accessible in poor neighborhoods in France, and conducted humanitarian actions especially for the visually impaired in Morocco.