Mozambique: Conservation and restoration of Malangatana’s works “essential” for future generations

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Mozambique: Conservation and restoration of Malangatana’s works “essential” for future generations

3:15 CAT | 30 Jul 2020

Photo: Lusa

The Portuguese Ambassador to Mozambique, Amélia Paiva, on Thursday, highlighted the importance of the conservation and restoration of Malangatana’s works for future generations, considering him “one of the first modern Mozambican painters”.

Two murals by the Mozambican artist were reopened today in Maputo, after restoration works, in a cooperative action of the Mozambican, Portuguese and German governments.

“Conservation and restoration is an essential process,” said Amélia Paiva, during the ceremony.

The first mural, called “Man and Nature”, painted between 1977 and 1979, is on the premises of the Museum of Natural History in Maputo and the second, untitled, can be seen at the Centre for African Studies on the campus of Eduardo Mondlane University, the oldest in the country.

The murals are to be ensured special protection and appreciation because “the next generations will be able to discover even more about its history and identity” from them, Detlev Wolter, the German Ambassador in Mozambique, said.

“These murals reflect parts of Mozambique’s history,” Wolter said.

Mutxini Malangatana, the artist’s son, said that one of his life’s missions is the conservation of his father’s works, noting that today a major exhibition of Malangatana opened in Chicago, presenting more than 40 works.

“It’s a happy coincidence,” Mutxini said, thanking him for the gesture, adding that one of his family’s goals is “to maintain and improve the principles of heritage preservation.

A multifaceted artist, Malangatana has murals in Maputo and Beira, South Africa and Swaziland, but also in countries such as Sweden and Colombia.

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya, who died in Matosinhos, Portugal, in 2011, at the age of 74, was one of the best known Mozambican artists and was awarded the Grand Official Medal of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, by the Portuguese State.

The artist has exhibited in Mozambique and Portugal, but also worldwide, in Germany, Austria and Bulgaria, Chile, Brazil, Angola and Cuba, United States and India.

Besides arts, he was a poet, actor, philanthropist and member of parliament of the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo), the party in power in Mozambique since independence.