Libya | Naima Morelli

Published! Italian colonial architecture in Libya on Al-Jazeera

13-07-2024

Essay, Interview, Libya, News, North Africa, Reportage

I have been interested in Libyan art, culture, and literature – as well as its relationship with its Italian colonial past – for a few years now. And every time I look at this country through a different facet, there is so much to discover.

This time I looked at the erasure of the colonial architectural heritage in Benghazi and Tripoli, gathering different viewpoints from Libyans, and their memories attached to these buildings.

I wrote the story for Al-Jazeera, with the title “Cultural treasure or painful reminder? Libya’s colonial architecture.”

Here is the link to the article

Published! Artists Exploring Libya’s History on The Markaz Review

By: Naima Morelli

04-03-2024

Libya, North Africa, Published, Research

My latest piece for The Markaz reviw is about two exhibitions in Tripoli and Florence. These examine Libyan identity, gauging what to take and what to leave of its colonial past and its ancestral roots, while trying to make sense of the last years of civil war.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Sarri Elfaitouri on The Markaz Review

By: Naima Morelli

04-12-2023

Uncategorized

For architect and artist Sarri Elfaitouri, starting from scratch in Benghazi is an existential necessity. After the March 2023 demolition of the city’s historical center, he reflects on urbanism, social reforms, and the legacy of colonialism in Libya.

I have interview Elfaitouri for The Markaz Review.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Libyan art scene on Hadara

By: Naima Morelli

13-09-2023

Interview, Libya, News, North Africa, Published, Reportage, Research

My latest story: “Contemporary Libyan art is looking back at its recent and ancient history”, has just been published on the beautiful Hadara Magazine.

I spoke with curator Najlaa Elageli, artists Tewa Barnosa, Shefa Salem and many others.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Marwa Benhalim on The New Arab

By: Naima Morelli

03-08-2023

Interview, Libya, News, Published

Artist Marwa Benhalim told me there is an invisible line dividing Libya. I tried to guess what it was. But of the many divisions splitting Libya in two, I wouldn’t have ever thought about this one: couscous and rice.

She explains to me that on the western side of Libya, there are semolina fields, and all the main dishes are based on couscous.

On the eastern side, it’s all rice crops, and you can find rice-based recipes: “The couscous side of Libya was influenced by commerce with Morocco and Tunisia, the other side had rice comes from Asia through Egypt. Trade stopped in the middle because there is a very large desert,” she says. “Through the food people eat, you can really understand the history of a country.”

I have interviewed the artist for The New Arab.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Alessandra Ferrini and the relationship Libya-Italy on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

03-07-2023

Interview, Italy, Libya, News, North Africa, Published

The work of Alessandra Ferrini [Image courtesy of the artist]

Middle East Monitor has just published my latest article titled: “Artist Alessandra Ferrini explores the complex relationship between Libya and Italy.”

The article is based on an interview with London-based Italian artist Alessandra Ferrini, who deepens the conversation around colonial and recent Libyan history, creating work about the manipulation of information, colonial memory, trauma and reparations.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! The Libyan Pantry Project on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

14-03-2023

English, Interview, Libya, News, North Africa, Published, Research

A new show in Tripoli looks at 70 years of Libya’s consumer culture. [Photo By Najlaa Elageli]

Since I started writing about Libya in 2021, I grew more and more interested in the history of the country and how artists and people in the cultural field are retelling the Libyan story.

So clearly I was so excited to learn from curator Najlaa Elageli about this show she put up in Tripoli’s old medina with artists Hadia Gana and Alla Budabbus, called “The Libyan Pantry Project.” I had to write about it!

By the way, this is my 50th piece for Middle East Monitor. What an honour collaborating with them for such a long time!

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Libyan feminist literature on 360 Magazine

By: Naima Morelli

06-01-2023

Libya, Published

My article about female/feminist literature in Libya was published – in its Dutch translation – on the 214 December issue of the magazine 360.

Here is the link to the piece online

Published! Interview with Nada Harib for Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

24-01-2022

English, Essay, Libya, Research

Al-Monitor has just published my interview with Libyan photographer and photojournalist Nada Harib. Her work is all about hope in the face of adversity and beauty in the midst of pain.

With her photographs widely exhibited in and outside Libya, from the Institut du Monde Arabe in France to the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, Harib’s work tells stories that have been forgotten or repressed during her country’s many turbulent phases.

It’s another step for me and Al-Monitor’s readers to learn more about the culture and humanity of Libya, beyond the news reports.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Libyan artist Shefa Salem on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

24-11-2021

English, Interview, Libya, News, Published, Research

In the show “I am Libya”, painter Shefa Salem presents outstanding canvases, demonstrating that the public is eager to learn about the ancient history of Libya

What does it mean to be Libyan? How to reconstruct a sense of belonging for the country and its people, starting from the deepest roots of Libyan culture, while preserving diversity?

These are the questions that artist, Shefa Salem, is grappling with for her first solo show I am Libya, which took place a few weeks ago in the Barah Arts and Culture Centre in Benghazi and will travel to Tripoli’s old city at the beginning of December.

I have interviewed the artist for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Grassroot art spaces in Libya on MEE

By: Naima Morelli

26-07-2021

Interview, Libya, North Africa, Published, Research

Despite a lack of cultural spaces, as well as ongoing political and economic instability, Libyan artists are determined to nurture their diverse arts scene.

I have spoken to a few of these important figures, working from Tripoli, Benghazi or from abroad, for Middle East Eye.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! 5 emerging Libyan artists to watch on MEE

By: Naima Morelli

23-06-2021

English, Libya, North Africa, Published, Research

It has been a few months now that I have been working on two articles about Libyan contemporary art for the webmagazine Middle East Eye.

The first one of the two just came out. Here we look at the younger talents in the country and in the diaspora, Shefa Salem, Tewa Barnosa, Mohamed Abumeis, Malak El Ghuel and Faiza Ramadan, with the observation from gallerist and expert Najlaa Elageli from Noon Arts.

Here is the link to the piece

Naima Morelli

Published! Italian colonial architecture in Libya on Al-Jazeera

Published! Artists Exploring Libya’s History on The Markaz Review

Published! Interview with Sarri Elfaitouri on The Markaz Review

Published! Libyan art scene on Hadara

Published! Interview with Marwa Benhalim on The New Arab

Published! Alessandra Ferrini and the relationship Libya-Italy on MEMO

Published! The Libyan Pantry Project on MEMO

Published! Libyan feminist literature on 360 Magazine

Published! Interview with Nada Harib for Al-Monitor

Published! Interview with Libyan artist Shefa Salem on MEMO

Published! Grassroot art spaces in Libya on MEE

Published! 5 emerging Libyan artists to watch on MEE

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