Shefa Salem
Shefa Salem | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996 (age 28–29) Benghazi |
| Nationality | Libyan |
| Education | University of Benghazi |
| Known for | Oil paintings reimagining Libya's archaeology and heritage |
| Style | Realism |
| Website | https://shefasalem.com.ly/ |
Shefa Salem, in Arabic: شفاء سالم (born 1996) is a Libyan artist, whose realistic, large-scale paintings and murals reimagine the history of Libya through its heritage and archaeology. In 2021 she was listed as one of Middle East Eye's 'Five Emerging Artists to Watch'.
Biography
[edit]Salem was born in Benghazi in 1996, and graduated from the University of Benghazi in 2021 with a BA in Architecture.[1] Her realistic, large-scale paintings and murals reimagine the history of Libya through its heritage and archaeology.[1][2][3][4] Her first solo exhibition was entitled I Am Libya; it took place in 2021 at the Barah Arts and Culture Centre in Benghazi, where she is based.[2][5] Significant works include Kaska, Dance of War which depicts Libyan soldiers performing a kaska dance of the Timihu people, first recorded 5000 years ago in Deir El-Bahari.[1][6] Another work Libyan Flute is inspired by the world's oldest flute which was found in Libya.[1] Salem found her inspiration for this by reading the journal Libyan Studies.[2] Another work, Funeral Ritual in the Acacus, is inspired by cave art from the Acacus Mountains dating to 4000 BC that featured a boat containing a group of people, one of whom was upside down and believed to be dead.[2]
In 2021 she was listed as one of Middle East Eye's 'Five Emerging Artists to Watch.'[6] Her work has been compared to that of Tewa Barnosa, Afra Alashhab and Malak Elghuel by art patron Najlaa Elageli.[5] In 2023 she was awarded a grant by Culture Resource (Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy) to produce a new series of work entitled Ethnolibya.[7] The resulting exhibition was shown in December 2024 at Bernice University of Architecture and Urbanism in Benghazi,[8] and in January 2025 at Iskandar House for Arts in Tripoli.[9] Works in the exhibition are inspired by the writing of Muhammad Al-Tarhouni and the poetry of Hamza Al-Falah.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d El-Assasy, Ahmad (2021-11-24). "Artist Reimagines Libyan History in Paintings". LibyaReview. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b c d "'I am Libya': 24-year-old artist Shefa Salem re-imagines Libyan history". Middle East Monitor. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Morelli, Naima (2024-03-03). "Artists Exploring Libya's History, Cultural Resilience and Rebirth". The Markaz Review. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ AlMahdi, Hajir (2018-10-10). "The Spring of Libyan Artists - artmejo". Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b "War and love in Libya: How grassroots arts organisations are rising after revolution". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b "'All my work is Libya': Five emerging Libyan artists to watch". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ in, Beirut. "Shefa Salem". Culture Resource. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "منصة الدولة | معرض "إثنوليبيا- #Ethnolibya" التشكيلي الأدبي". منصة الدولة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ الوسط, بوابة. "شفاء سالم فنانة ليبية تروي قصصا بريشة ما قبل التاريخ". alwasat.ly (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "أعمال تجمع التشكيل بالأدب.. معرض "إثنو ليبيا" سردية تاريخ قبائل البلاد | التلفزيون العربي". التلفزيون العربي (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ الوسط, بوابة. "مشروع «إثنوليبيا».. سردية جديدة للتاريخ الليبي". alwasat.ly (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-16.
