- Title: RUSSIA: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son showcases his artwork in Moscow
- Date: 2nd July 2010
- Summary: GADDAFI, MOSCOW MAYOR YURI LUZKHOV (ON HIS RIGHT) AND OTHER RUSSIAN OFFICIALS CUTTING RED RIBBON TO OPEN EXHIBITION
- Embargoed: 17th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAC4ES6WN92CT3L9XGPYOR0RJZM
- Story Text: Artist and reformer Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the Libyan leader's son credited with brokering Tripoli's stand-off with the West, kept Russian relations warm when he showed off his paintings.
The shaven-headed 38-year-old guided Russian officials through the exhibit "The Desert is Not Silent", made up of around 50 of his own paintings along with Roman and Libyan antiques.
Travelling through western cities from London to Montreal over the last eight years, the exhibit is a tribute to the rich landscapes and animals of Libya, said Saif al-Islam, who was educated in Britain and has a fondness for pet tigers.
"This kind of things was the beginning of my journey in colours," said Saif al-Islam, pointing to a still-life of coloured fruits. "Like a rehearsal, so this part is about the early, early figures. "Until I ended up dealing with just pre-historic animals," he explained as he toured through the exhibition.
He said with his exhibition he wanted to show Russia that Libya does not only buy weapons and sell gas and oil, but also has culture, art and history.
Three of the paintings highlight conflict with the West.
"Intifada", also from 2001, features a young fist clenching a stone with splashes of blood. News clippings of an Israeli raid and a Palestinian funeral have been glued over thick oil paint. "War" features the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.
2000's "The Challenge" depicts cross-touting crusaders on the shores of a desolate beach, with a sepia picture of his father Muammar Gaddafi looking down defiantly from the sky.
Saif al-Islam has the highest public profile of any of Gaddafi's sons and though he holds no official role is seen as a potential successor to his father.
At the exhibition's opening evening, he denied interest in following his father's footsteps.
"To put it simply, countries in the Arab world and people in the Arab world want democracy not because of their love of democracy, but because it's a means not an end. Democracy is a way to give the right person the position they deserve, and to bring competition into the political process, so that we stop succession of power but rather compete for political positions. Therefore democracy is a means rather than an end, and we want democracy because is the best form of government in the world,'' he said.
During the exhibition he also spoke out about a recent report from Amnesty International which criticised Libya's human rights record,
"Amnesty international had a lot of mistakes and a lack of understanding, they were talking about punishments which are a part of Muslim Sharia (religious) law, therefor it would be very difficult if not impossible to cancel these types of punishment in Muslim society. I think they're talking about things from their point of view, and we're talking about things from our point of view. Yes these forms of punishment they are very harsh, it is true they are violent, and have no mercy, but these are the things that exist in sharia Islam,'' he added.
Influential Moscow mayor of 18 years Yuri Luzhkov said Saif al-Islam's exhibit was representative of the "unique friendship" between Russia and Libya, who have agreed on a series of arms and energy deals over the last two years.
State-owned Russian Railways, currently involved in a high-speed link along Libya's Mediterranean Coast, co-sponsored the exhibit.
Analysts say Gaddafi's son has little support from the army, whose endorsement is seen as vital if he is to have a political future if he were to replace his father, who with 40 years at the helm in Libya is Africa's longest-serving leader. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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