The Ahmed Zabana National Museum in Oran, Algeria, is currently showcasing a retrospective exhibition titled "Between Light and the Mediterranean Sea... Feelings in Colours," featuring the work of Algerian visual artist Malika Nakkach, also known as Kouskousa. The exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of Nakkach’s artistic career, highlighting her fusion of traditional and modern elements to celebrate Algeria’s cultural identity and natural environment.

Nakkach’s paintings focus on Algeria’s coastal regions, with particular attention to the city of Oran and its surroundings. Her work prominently features seascapes, beaches, and urban scenes rendered in vivid, warm tones that evoke the Mediterranean atmosphere characteristic of western Algeria. The colour blue, in varied shades, dominates the exhibition, underscoring the artist’s personal connection to the sea and sky of her coastal hometown.

The exhibition includes depictions of significant historical and architectural landmarks, such as Oran’s old Derb and Sidi El Houari districts, the Santa Cruz Fortress, and the naval base at Mers El Kébir. In addition to urban imagery, her paintings portray the Bay of Algiers, traditional markets, public gatherings, and rural landscapes, offering a diverse perspective on Algeria’s social and cultural life.

Nakkach’s style draws heavily on Impressionism, combining academic accuracy with expressive brushwork. Her use of light, colour, and movement seeks to capture the dynamic qualities of her subjects, blending detailed architectural elements with impressionistic interpretations of natural scenery and atmospheric conditions. Oil on canvas serves as her primary medium, enabling the creation of layered textures and depth. The artist’s bold and spontaneous brushstrokes contribute to a vivid sense of motion and ambiance within her landscapes.

The exhibition provides an opportunity for visitors to engage with Algeria’s rich heritage through a modern artistic lens, emphasizing the interplay between tradition and contemporary expression. It highlights Malika Nakkach’s role in conveying the cultural and environmental essence of the Mediterranean coast through her distinctive visual language.