Libyan Artist Tewa Baronsa Explores Politics, History and Sound in Diaspora Practice

Tewa Baronsa, a Libyan artist residing in Amsterdam, embarked on her artistic path at the age of 14 during the 2011 revolution. Her mother, an educator, introduced her to Arabic calligraphy, which informs her work that tackles socio-political challenges in Libya stemming from Muammar Gaddafi's Cultural Revolution in the 1970s. In 2015, she established WaraQ in Tripoli, but its closure led her to initiate public projects like Shifting Sands. After moving to Europe in 2019, her art began incorporating sound. Her latest endeavor, In yesterday's forecasts, We predict grace, reflects on the 2023 Derna floods, connecting political frameworks to environmental degradation. Baronsa also critiques the cultural landscape in post-revolution Libya, describing the art community as small and apprehensive, while her sound installation Teneri Ara Assensu delves into the roles of French soldiers and militias during Libya's conflict.