Libya Conflicts: Artistic creativity survives in war-torn country

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02:45

A country ravaged by a dictator, then ripped apart by civil war. But one group of Libyan artists is proving that nothing can stamp out human creativity. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports from the eastern city of Benghazi.

Mohammed Busneina's Darbuka survived the purge. It is the way he plays this most traditional of Libyan instruments by freestyling, that for many years made performances like this impossible. "Cultural corruption" under Muammar Gaddafi's rule had serious consequences.

Even with the despot gone, signs of modernity were suppressed by Islamic extremists, or subdued by civil war. Except in this once hidden basement in Benghazi, where quiet creativity persisted even in darker times. Now, amid relative stability, it is beginning to resurface. Mohammed's now putting music to the paintings hung on these walls: they recently put on an exhibition.

"We were trying to open a door for civil works and art works. And to give space for artists to try to express their feelings and to give a space for people who are interested in art to see something different than war."

Guy: "what do these masks represent?"

DINA ELGALLAL ARTIST "It's from an exhibition called reflections. And I want to show the concept that we all wear different masks every day, sometimes bad, sometimes good."

Dina Elgallal self-trained using whatever materials she could find. And believes her work has the power to heal.

DINA ELGALLAL ARTIST "Art and music is not a big part of their life because they have struggles. But if we really use art to show these things more, better than just showing copies of paintings and things, it would be like: we can deliver messages through art."

It seems that not even the most vicious conflicts could crush creativity. GH, CGTN, Benghazi.