
Mawete is 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 seem often 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
“We must continue to philosophize.”
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 is 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 seem often futuristic, technical constructs full of symbolism with a lot of movement.
His first solo exhibition took place in 2001, called “The Power of Color”, since then, he has been exhibiting regularly in Angola and abroad. In 2006, his exhibition “Substracionismo” took place in Luanda, which formed the basis of his style and philosophy. He has been working on the conceptualization of the fundamental ideas of this term ever since and its influence can also be seen in his later work.
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 is 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.
Duo Expo. Monyo I Nyitu – Espírito e corpe, Gallery Tamar Golan, Luanda, Angola
Expo. The bionic (de)construction of Luanda, UNAP, Luanda, Angola
Expo. Kintwada, UNAP, Luanda, Angola
Tons and Reflections, gallery Tamar Golan, Luanda, Angola
“Substracionismo”, Luanda, Angola
The Power of Color, Luanda, Angola
Expo Angola Restitution des Identités, Africa Museum.OEACP, Brussels, Belgium
Mawete and Frriends, Candando, Luanda, Angola
Cultura e lingua, Camões Institute, Luanda, Angola
Exposicao #7 Atelier Mawete, Luanda, Angola
Contemporary Art Fair Paris, via OpenArtExchange, Paris, France
OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Expo. Tusikama, Luanda
Imago Mundi Collection, Italy
Collection of the Angolan Embassy in New York
Collection of the Angolan Embassy in London
OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
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
“Wealth of Africa”, Cristiano Mangovo Bras
“Africa, Childhood, Reality and its Influences”, Julio Madika
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