Somalia

What Remains

What remains when the war ends? Ruins preserve histories that are often forgotten. In the face of conflict and destruction, ruins are proof that there was something before the wreckage, before the war, and before the painful emotions they now evoke. Not all ruins are the same; some buildings remain standing despite attempts to turn them into rubble. They are manifestations of people’s indestructible hope, resilience, and survival.

Somalia’s exhibition traces the history of Somali architecture before and after the civil war, from its pre-colonial heritage to its unique British and Italian colonial past, through to the post-independence socialist modernism of the late twentieth century. The exhibit will also reflect on the impact of the civil war on this architectural heritage. Visitors will be guided through images and video projection that follow the devastation which not only transformed the physical landscape of the country but also carried with it unimaginable human costs.

Credits:

• Curator: Somali Architecture
• Design team: Yusuf Shegow, Madina Scacchi, Iman Mohamed, Ahmed Mussa. 
• Supporting bodies: Premier Bank, Deeqa Construction and Water Well Drilling Co., Benadir Regional Administration.