Patricio Mawete
Painter | Angola
Mawete (1977-2023) was a great colorist and mastered a variety of styles, from realistic to abstract, expressionist to cubistic, but mostly semi-abstract with some figurative elements in it. His more abstract paintings often seem futuristic, technical constructs full of symbolism with a lot of movement. Maete’s more figurative work often deals with social values, placing the African woman, family and community values as the cornerstones of contemporary Angolan society
In memoriam
I am absolutely shocked and so deeply sorry to hear the terrible news that our artist Patricio Mawete has passed away. Our sincere condoleances from all of us at OpenArtExchange go to Nick and all of his family and friends. He had such a big heart and was such a great mentor for so many young artists in Luanda over the past years, deeply religious, always ready to serve others. No doubt, he will be gravely missed by the many artists in Luanda whom he gave the chance to develop themselves, his family and many friends and people he helped.
So many personal good memories: I will always remember your great hospitality, having dinner at your home, taking me to my first African wedding, your big smile. The studio in Luanda, your big dream together with Cristiano and others. The images of your residency for Back to Human, your big trip to Europe. Exhibiting together with Bouvy Enkobo, Astrid Meyer, Lawrence Kwakye, Don Sebas Cassule. Humming away whilst painting with your pallet knives in our gallery, the opening with the recital of Fenneke Hordijk's poetry, visiting the Rotterdam museums. We all grew together, working on this dream to grow African contemporary art in one way or the other. I simply cannot believe that you have left us.
Thank you for everything my big Maestro. You will live on in our memories, forever anchored at the roots of OpenArtExchange. A beautiful grand soul has left us, rest in peace!
By Joke Bakker-Jansen
Portrait
Kingsley Ogwara (1975) studied his bachelors in Fine and Applied Arts at Delta State University in Abrake, Nigeria and resides and works from Luxembourg, where he is a well recognised painter and sculptor. His paintings and sculptures in clay, stone, wood or metal consist of organic concave and convex forms, mostly (semi-)abstract and are inspired by African or European images and symbols.They center about human transformation and connection, about the freedom and harmony that can be found in the masses. As such they rather express a state of mind than an extensive narrative.
Ogwara: “In our globalized world with its many issues, we each struggle individually to live our lives in a meaningful way. When we grow up, we build up our defenses, often based on fear and distrust, resulting from the inevitable hardships that life brings sometimes. However, life also brings unexpected compassion and new windows, and each hardship brings new insights, makes us reflect and grow. We all need to mature, overcome fear and distrust and open up our defenses to connect to each other, dare to be vulnerable to give and receive love. My works are about this transformation and interconnectedness”
His paintwork with knives in oil and acrylic on canvas are characterized by pointilistic abstract orchestrations of colors and rich textures, which seem to take on the form of masses of people. Ogwara typically hides his initial images behind these thick pointilistic pastiche layers, which creates a lot of depth and suggestion. In his latest Icon-series, he experiments with adding some figurative element by allowing the initial portraits to shine through.
Ogwara has participated in many group- and solo exhibitions, amongst others in Luxemburg, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Austria. He was awarded amongst others the prestigious bi-annual Prix Pierre Werner for his paintings as best artist in Luxembourg in 2016. At the Luxembourg Art Week 2019, he was nominated again with his sculptures for the Grand-Duc Adolphe award and in 2022 again for the Prix Pierre Werner, which granted him the titular membership of CAL as the first African member in its history. Most recently, he showed for 6 months at the blockbuster exhibition “Gospel” at the historical Catharijne Convent museum in Utrecht (Netherlands). His paintings are included in collections all over the world.
Patricio Mawete, born in Kwaza Norte Province in Angola, 1977. He was trained in the Academy of Fine Arts in D.R. Congo and subsequently did apprenticeships in painting and sculpting at Atelier Etona and ceramics at Atelier Domingos Tekassala before setting up his own Atelier Mawete in Luanda, where he also worked to curate and revive plastic arts in his country and the rest of the African continent, betting for young talented artists.
Mawete was a great colorist and masters a variety of styles, from realistic to abstract, expressionist to cubistic, but mostly semi-abstract with some figurative elements in it. His more abstract paintings often seem futuristic, technical constructs full of symbolism with a lot of movement.
His first solo exhibition took place in 2001, called “The Power of Color”, after which he exhibited regularly in Angola and abroad. In 2006, his exhibition “Substracionismo” took place in Luanda, which formed the basis of his style and philosophy.
Some say that “Substracionism” is the philosophy that brings one back to the space where the environment has assumed the essence of human life, where the laws of nature continue to illuminate our senses in face of everything around us.
Mawete’s more figurative work often deals with social values, placing the African woman, family and community values as the cornerstones of contemporary Angolan society, resulting in sometimes almost iconic socialist art. It reflects his deeply religious and social beliefs where people and other life forms are all connected and should serve each other, rather then just live for themselves.
Though Mawete was firmly based in Luanda, playing a crucial role in raising a new generation of artists, he has exhibited in various countries in Africa, New York, London, Paris, Netherlands and Belgium.
Credentials
2020
- Duo Expo. Monyo I Nyitu – Espírito e corpe, Gallery Tamar Golan, Luanda, Angola
2019
- Expo. The bionic (de)construction of Luanda, UNAP, Luanda, Angola
2017
- Expo. Kintwada, UNAP, Luanda, Angola
2016
- Tons and Reflections, gallery Tamar Golan, Luanda, Angola
2006
- “Substracionismo”, Luanda, Angola
2001
- The Power of Color, Luanda, Angola
2022
- Expo Angola Restitution des Identités, Africa Museum.OEACP, Brussels, Belgium
2021
- Mawete and Frriends, Candando, Luanda, Angola
- Cultura e lingua, Camões Institute, Luanda, Angola
2020
- Exposicao #7 Atelier Mawete, Luanda, Angola
2019
- Contemporary Art Fair Paris, via OpenArtExchange, Paris, France
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2018
- Expo. Tusikama, Luanda
2015
- Imago Mundi Collection, Italy
2014
- Collection of the Angolan Embassy in New York
2013
- Collection of the Angolan Embassy in London
2019
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Curator texts
2018
- Colors of Impressionism, Kisolokele Lukelu Mendes
- Melodies and Colors, Marley Nkosi
- Valuable Woman, Bolondo
- The Yield, Joselyna Pemba
- One I can For the Future, Bozene Lebwele
2017
- “Wealth of Africa”, Cristiano Mangovo Bras
- “Africa, Childhood, Reality and its Influences”, Julio Madika