Bayt Ali Gana ("Ali Gana's House" in Arabic) finally opened this year, and seeks to offer both retrospection and hope in a country constantly threatened by violence and where arts and culture stand largely neglected. Once past a lush garden, visitors reach the museum's permanent exhibition of paintings, sculptures and sketches by the masterful Ali Gana. Set on a wall, an old shipping container houses an artist residency for "curators and museologists" whose skills are scarce in Libya, said Hadia Gana. During the unrest that began in 2011, Hadia Gana said she feared "losing everything if a rocket hit the house". Hadia Gana lamented that while museums should be educational spaces, "here in Libya, we don't have that notion yet".

Source: Libya Today May 31, 2024 03:21 UTC