User:OmarKikhia/Awad Abeida

Awad Abeida, a visual artist from Benghazi, Libya, left an unforgettable mark on the cultural heritage of his city and his country as a whole. Through his inspiring paintings, Abeida managed to capture the essence of Libyan life with careful focus and passion in preserving the beauty of the past.

Born in 1923, Abeida began his artistic journey at an early age due to his strong love for art. Despite facing social traditions that discouraged pursuing his passion for art, he worked diligently to improve his skills by following the academic approach of fine arts in Italy and taking private lessons from professional artists in drawing. Abeida's works demonstrated a deep emotional connection to Libyan society, depicting various aspects of life, from wedding ceremonies to traditional games played by children in the streets.

In 1946, Abeida established the first fine arts exhibition in Benghazi during the British Military Administration in Cyrenaica. This exhibition, known as the "House of Art and Heritage" showcased his paintings that became a window to the past, reflecting Benghazi's life from the 1930s until the present. The exhibition was located near the Sports City and the Trade and Development Bank - Benghazi Branch, and it was considered a cultural landmark, welcoming visitors and engaging them in direct artistic dialogues with the artist Abeida and other visiting artists during the holy month of Ramadan.

Khalifa Fakhri, a respected writer of his time, pondered the intentions behind Abeida's paintings. Fakhri believed that Abeida's artworks expressed the warm relationships that bind the Libyan community, capturing various aspects of life and the love shared among individuals within the society. Abeida's paintings were not merely documentation of the city's history; they were full of life and movement, making the characters and industries that shaped people's lives appear vividly real.

Despite facing economic challenges and social constraints, Awad Abeida remained loyal to his passion for art, refusing to sell his paintings. His artworks were not commodities to be sold but resembled his own children, embraced and cared for. He believed that art should not be treated as a trade; instead, it is a hobby that the artist lives and enjoys, inspiring others along the way.

In addition to his artistic talent, Abeida had an interest in photography, but fate led him back to painting. Despite the difficulties, he never gave up his artistic emotions, finding solace in drawing and often listening to his beloved classical Italian music.

Abeida's collection of artworks, displayed in the permanent exhibition in Benghazi, serves as a living witness to the city's history and the spirit of its people. This exhibition is not just a traditional art display but a visual journey that takes us to the heart and soul of Benghazi during different periods of the past. His paintings embody people's actions, religious occasions, traditional crafts, and local small industries. They follow children's games and portray the features of faces that carry the country's character in the "portraits" that are part of this exhibition, presenting the country's history through the brush of the artist Awad Abeida.

Stages of his Life

 * In 1938, he completed his high school education and subsequently traveled to Italy to pursue studies in painting.
 * Starting with his first exhibition in Benghazi in 1946, he continued to showcase his artwork annually until 1951.
 * After 1951, there were no further exhibitions held by him in Libya until he fell ill in 1993.
 * However, during this period, he did hold exhibitions in other countries, including Syria, Italy, and France.
 * In 1978, he established a studio in London, where he dedicated more than twelve years to creating paintings.
 * In 1994, he received the Medal of Art from King Hassan II of Morocco in recognition of an exhibition held under the king's auspices.
 * Throughout his career, he has been honored with numerous awards and certificates from various institutions.