Wood takes on a voice, preserves memories and tells the stories of a people. That is the invitation extended by ‘ULANDA: The Aesthetics of Makonde Living’, a sculpture exhibition by masters Miguel Valingue and Lamizosi Mudunguo, open since 11 September at the Camões – Portuguese Cultural Centre in Maputo.
Curated by Otilja Aquino, the exhibition brings together works from different stages of both sculptors’ careers, tracing a journey through the forms, symbols and values of Makonde identity. According to a press statement from BCI, a partner of the initiative, ULANDA invites visitors to discover what lives within it: history, spirituality, memory and the beauty of knowledge passed down across generations.
BCI executive board member Raúl Almeida highlighted the artistry of the two sculptors and the importance of preserving and promoting one of Mozambique’s most distinctive cultural expressions. For Almeida, associating the bank with an exhibition of this nature reflects a commitment that has accompanied the institution throughout its own history: recognising culture as a space for affirming identity, transmitting memory and creating value.
Almeida also underscored the partnership between BCI and the Camões – Portuguese Cultural Centre, describing it as a relationship that is gaining new momentum and reinforcing the exchange between the two institutions, bringing together resources, venues and audiences in support of the arts, literature and their creators. The partnership includes, among other elements, the bank’s presence at cultural initiatives promoted by Camões and the organisation of joint activities at BCI’s own spaces.
Portugal’s Ambassador to Mozambique, Jorge Monteiro, who attended the opening, highlighted the value and symbolism of art and its capacity to bring peoples and cultures closer together.
In the year it marks its 30th anniversary, BCI finds in this exhibition a reflection of the path it has followed. Over three decades, the bank has supported the arts, literature, writers and artists, opening spaces and associating itself with initiatives that contribute to valorising creative work and preserving Mozambican cultural memory.
The exhibition will remain on display at the Camões – Portuguese Cultural Centre in Maputo until 10 October.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=544346
