- Title: LIBYA: Libyan craftsmen work to maintain traditional crafts
- Date: 10th April 2014
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA ( APRIL 8, 2014) (REUTERS) VISITORS LOOKING AT CRAFT WORK ARTIST MABED AL-SONOSSEI HOLDING UP DRAWING VARIOUS OF NATURAL DYES ON TABLE DRIED FLOWERS IN BASKET STONE ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MABED AL-SONOSSEI, ARTIST, SAYING: ''I am trying to show how to draw paintings and things like this with colours, that were used 200 or 300 years ago, old colours that I make myself to decorate traditional Libyan artwork.'' VARIOUS OF AL-SONOSSEI DRAWING USING HANDMADE COLOURS POT OF PAINT ARTIST ZAHRA FATHI TALKING TO VISITORS VARIOUS OF HANDMADE ITEMS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ZAHRA FATHI, ARTIST, SAYING: ''We are trying to demonstrate that there is Libyan work, and these artworks that we've created represent the beauty in Libya, the sand, mountains, flowers. This is what we are trying to show in Libyan work, god willing.'' VARIOUS OF HANDMADE ITEM MADE USING FLOWERS VISITORS AT FATHI'S STAND STALL SHOWING ITEMS MADE FROM WOOD VARIOUS OF WOODWORK AND CALLIGRAPHY ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF WOODEN ITEMS CRAFTSMEN KHALED ABU LATIF, STANDING AT HIS STALL VARIOUS OF WOODWORK ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALED ABU LATIF, ARTIST, SAYING: ''Making art from wood is something that I inherited from my family, now my sons, their ages range from eight to 20 are making handmade wooden items. I taught them this so as to stop it from being extinct, actually it has become extinct, really in Libya nobody else competes with me.'' VARIOUS OF WOODEN OBJECTS ON DISPLAY PEOPLE BUYING PRODUCTS
- Embargoed: 25th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Arts
- Reuters ID: LVAD52818QBDID3NBRBXDYFWX7JE
- Story Text: Libyan craftsmen are showcasing their workmanship at an exhibition in the country's capital, Tripoli.
One of the aims of the exhibition is to show off traditional handmade goods, and to educate young Libyans about the intricate processes involved in making the items on display.
Artist, Mabed al-Sonossei, from Ghadam City is making natural dyes from flowers and fruit like pomegranate. He says he's using a traditional technique that was used hundreds of years ago to paint pictures and to dye garments.
''I am trying to show how to draw paintings and things like this with colours, that were used 200 or 300 years ago, old colours that I make myself to decorate traditional Libyan artwork,'' explained al-Sonossei as he sat drawing pictures using natural made colours.
Products on display at the show included, woven baskets, pottery and woodwork.
Libyan artist Zahra Fathi's is one of the artists taking part in the exhibition, she says it's important for artists to demonstrate the natural beauty of Libya in their work.
''We are trying to demonstrate that there is Libyan work, and these artworks that we've created represent the beauty in Libya, the sand, mountains, flowers. This is what we are trying to show in Libyan work, god willing,'' said Fathi whose items are made using flowers and natural stones.
For many here the techniques that they use were shown to them by their forefathers, and it's become a quest to keep their traditions alive.
''Making art from wood is something that I inherited from my family, now my sons, their ages range from eight to 20 are making handmade wooden items. I taught them this so as to stop it from being extinct, actually it has become extinct, really in Libya nobody else competes with me,'' explained wood carver Khaled Abu Latif.
The exhibition which kicked off on April 2, runs until Saturday (April 12). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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