ISSIAKHEM M’Hamed was born on June 17th, 1928 in Taboudoucht (village Aït Djennad, Azeffoun) in Kabylia. From 1931 he spends his childhood in Relizane. In 1943 he treats a grenade, stolen in a military camp, which explodes.Two of his sisters and a nephew dies. Hospitalized during two years, he is amputated by the left hand. From 1947 until 1951 he was raised in Algerie of the society of the Fine art, then the Art college. He then follows the lessons of the miniaturist Omar Racim. In 1951 he meets Kateb Yacine. From 1953 till 1958 he frequents the Art college of Paris where he finds Kateb Yacine - both artists will remain inseparable. In 1958 Issiakhem leaves France to stay in FRG then live in GDR..
ISSIAKHEM M’Hamed was born on June 17th, 1928 in Taboudoucht (village Aït Djennad, Azeffoun) in Kabylia. From 1931 he spends his childhood in Relizane. In 1943 he treats a grenade, stolen in a military camp, which explodes.Two of his sisters and a nephew dies. Hospitalized during two years, he is amputated by the left hand. From 1947 until 1951 he was raised in Algerie of the society of the Fine art, then the Art college. He then follows the lessons of the miniaturist Omar Racim. In 1951 he meets Kateb Yacine. From 1953 till 1958 he frequents the Art college of Paris where he finds Kateb Yacine - both artists will remain inseparable. In 1958 Issiakhem leaves France to stay in FRG then live in GDR.
In 1962, grant holder of the Casa of Velázquez of Madrid, Issiakhem returns to Algeria. He is then a draftsman to the daily paper Algiers Républicain. In 1963 he is a founder member of the National Union of the Plastic arts. From 1964 till 1966 foreman of painting to the Art college of Algiers then educational director of the Art college of Oran. He illustrates then several works of Kateb Yacine. From 1965 till 1982 he creates the models of bank notes and numerous Algerian postage stamps. In 1967 he realizes with Kateb Yacine a film for the television, Dusts of July, in 1968 the decorations of the film The way, of Slim Riad. In 1971 Issiakhem is a professor of graphic art to the Ecole polytechnique of Architecture and Town planning of Algiers and creates decorations for the film in November. He travels in 1972 in Vietnam and receives in 1973 a golden medal at the International Fair of Algiers for the decorations of the stand of the Ministry of Employment and Social services.
From 1973 till 1978 Issiakhem is an illustrator. He steers in 1977 the realization of a fresco for Aéroport_d’Alger Alger. The Ministry of Employment and Social services publishes in Algiers a plaque the foreword under the title Issiakhem, Œil-de-lynx and the Americans, thirty five of which Kateb Yacine writes years of the hell of a painter. In 1978 Issiakhem stays a few months in Moscow and receives in 1980 the Golden Lion of Rome, distinction of UNESCO for the African art. He dies on December 1st 1985, following a long disease.
source north africa.com