Patricio Mawete

Painter | Angola

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.”

Artworks

Portrait

 

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.

Share this article:

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.

Credentials

Solo exhibitions 

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

Group exhibitions

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

Artistic residence

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