Arabic Soul — or rather, Moroccan.

My connection with Moroccan culture is rooted in many warm memories.

Photo by Kyriacos Georgiou on Unsplash

I’ve always made friends easily—with people and with cultures alike. During my student years in Moscow, I had a close-knit circle of North African friends, and through them, I was introduced to the charm of the Arab world.

Thanks to their influence—and my own genuine curiosity—I learned to drink sweet mint tea, wear red slippers with pointed toes, and sing Lamaallem with all my heart.

At that time, I was especially close with a girl from Algeria, Céline—a beautiful name for a beautiful soul.

I had planned to visit her in Algeria and often received warm greetings from her mother. But in the end, I chose to study in Cuba instead as I only had enough savings for one big adventure. And honestly, what a luxurious dilemma that was!

This painting, for me, is a tribute to feminine beauty, to the magic that seems to float in ornate hallways, to tamed tropical plants, to bold colors—and of course, to the famous Moroccan tiles.

Interestingly, none of the references I’m sharing here were used during the actual creation of Arabic Soul.

They appeared later—almost like confirmations of what I had already absorbed intuitively and carried in my imagination. Even those iconic blue pots from Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech showed up afterward, as if my memory had quietly stored them away until the right moment.

There was actually one more element that was meant to be in this painting. A little clue: look at the floor—or maybe the woman’s shoulder. What do you think it could be?

My fascination with Arab culture has never faded, and I’m slowly moving toward a deeper exploration of it in the future. I dream of traveling solo to Morocco one day. But the more I learn about other women’s experiences, the more I feel like waiting for the right time. To wander through Jardin Majorelle, the buzzing markets of Marrakech, and the blue streets of Chefchaouen and Fes—it all sounds like a dream to me.

Photo by Max Brown on Unsplash

In the meantime, prints of Arabic Soul are available on my website—and yes, the original is still available too.

With love, Anastasia Ovi 🌿