Hédi Zarrouk

One day, an encounter…
An impromptu meeting under the October sun, on a quiet beach. As the walk unfolds, a male figure appears—his presence magnetic, his hands busy. He brings to life images inspired by the sea, nature, and the architecture that surrounds him. With strokes of blue, black, and white, he paints his world—right there, facing the sea.

It is his paintings that speak for him. They draw in passersby and spark the curiosity of onlookers, breathing life into the calm autumn seascape and the empty beach, nestled beneath the ancient ramparts of Hammamet's fortress.
“I'm a particular kind of artist," says Hédi Zarrouk, a Hammamet native in his sixties. “I've always loved working with my hands. Painting is a therapeutic activity for me—when I start, I can go on for days. Above all, it's about passion and pleasure."

Though deeply rooted in Tunisia, Hédi spent most of his artistic life in Germany, where he developed and refined his style. Now retired and back in his homeland, he finds renewed inspiration in the landscapes and cultural richness of Hammamet. His work has been exhibited in galleries across Europe and Tunisia, and is part of several prominent private collections.

While he also experiments with natural elements—seaweed, driftwood, and palm bark—his true expression unfolds on canvas. His paintings capture the soul of his surroundings: the Mediterranean landscape, the old city's architecture, local traditions, and the rhythm of coastal life. Hédi doesn't paint from imagination—he paints what he sees, what he lives, what he knows.

Sourcing both inspiration and materials from the shorelines of his hometown, Hédi Zarrouk brings together the essence of Hammamet in every brushstroke. A child of the old medina, he bridges past and present through vivid depictions that reflect a deep connection to place and memory.

With the appearance of a seasoned fisherman and the insight of someone who knows the sea intimately, Hédi is a living inspiration. On the sand, a few painted compositions rest—some finished, others still in progress. Each one is a window into his world, layered with texture, color, and story.

Hédi Zarrouk creates in an idyllic, open-air studio, where the natural world meets urban life and historic Arab architecture. Between swims and conversations with curious passersby, his canvases continue to fill—each painting a tribute to the beauty, culture, and quiet poetry of Hammamet.