“Artists die, but their art remains timeless” This saying embodies the reality of the artist Ali Gana’s museum, which pulsates with life in the heart of Tripoli, as his family transformed his home into a fine arts museum, preserving his artistic legacy and documenting his works.
Ali Gana’s vast collection of documented Islamic architectural landmarks in various ancient Libyan cities has made his home a destination for researchers and those interested in architectural history.
Upon approaching the Gana Museum, a bullet-riddled road sign on the gate separating the museum from the private residence catches the eye, while diverse plants at the museum’s entrance welcome visitors, heralding a world of art and life awaiting inside.
Paintings, sculptures, and schematic drawings executed by Ali Gana now adorn the corners of his home, which receives artists and art enthusiasts from all over. There are archives documenting traditional crafts and professions some of which have completely disappeared.
The Ali Gana Museum is not limited to displaying his works; its rooms and corners host diverse art exhibitions and provide space for seminars and art workshops.
Gana’s family always feared harm to the house, especially with recurring clashes in its vicinity, but it stood resilient in the face of these challenges.
Hadiya Gana, the artist’s daughter, who inherited his love for art, registered the museum as a legal institution that embraces artistic and cultural activities. Hadiya plans as she told Agence France-Presse (AFP), to establish an artistic and educational research center that gathers artists, talents, children, and art lovers of all kinds.
She emphasizes that “museums should be educational spaces, and this idea is still absent in Libya.”
Hadiya’s establishment of the Museum was not a coincidence or an impulsive decision, but rather the realization of her father’s deferred dream. In 1996, he applied to establish a private school for art education, but his request was frozen and forgotten over time, only to be realized today, about 30 years later, by his daughter, following his footsteps.
