For decades many aspects of Libyan culture has been overshadowed by the images and manifestations of the Gaddafi tyrannical regime. Libyan writers and artists became a rare breed, stricken with oppression, poverty, and above all ignorance and neglect.

I am trying with this series of posts on (Imtidad) to present the hidden face of Libyan art and artists, that began to breath the fresh air of freedom, and are looking forward to enjoy more open, inspirational, creative atmosphere, enabling them to be part of the social, and cultural changes that Libya will be undergoing in the next few years.
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“Today, I call you in and draw upon my colour, love and brandings of the heart canvas; rising at your revelation threshold, pure white on the veil of the other painting.” – Mohammed Bin Lamin
Mohammed Bin Lamin, is a Libyan artist that draws inspiration from his environment and surroundings, born and raised in Misurata, Libya’s third largest city, he embodied a combination of the rural and urban in his paintings and works of art.

Bin Lamin, indulges in the ancient history of Libya, especially the ancient cave paintings in southern Libya, dating back 12,000 years ago, and the depiction of ancient Libyans on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs and monuments, and also Libyan traditional art and legends.

His interest in bright and subtle colours, which reflect in many ways the natural colours of the Libyan landscape, gives him that unique trademark, distinguishing him from other Libyan modern artists.

His experimentalist surreal sculptures and digital art works can be in some cases very intriguing, but they reflect his quest to experiment with different materials and freedom from restrictions and conformity.

His painted beings, with their deformed, disproportionate, heads and bodies, with their glowing colours of Yellow, green, red, brown and blue, the colours of the Libyan landscape, reflect a torn, sometimes deformed, identity, which tries to mix the different and divers, and conflicting, identities of Libya, a land of desert, and sea, rural and urban, the serious and absurd.

The Beings of Mohammed Bin Lamin, are entombed in their colourful, deformed submiss
ive world. They don’t seem able to escape their mundane reality, surrendering to a life of boredom and frustration, but not for Long…

Mohammed Bin Lamin, was born in Misurata in 1969, artist, painter, and sculptor. His works has been shown in many art exhibitions in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, UK, and China, his works were reproduced as book covers for many Libyan writers. 

He was arrested by Gaddafi regime at his art studio in Misurata on the 16th Februry 2011 there has been no reports of his condition or whereabouts since. 

For more information of his works visit his official website Assakeefa Art Gallery.