AfricanColours - "The Italian Woman": Malangatana's Final Masterpiece

Mozambique Mon 16-05-2011

"The Italian Woman": Malangatana's Final Masterpiece
By a Correspondent

The official launching of FIAT in Mozambique on the 5th of April in Maputo was graced by the auction of a very special and unique FIAT 500 - a car designed and painted by the award-winning Mozambican artist, Malangatana Valente Ngwenya, which he named “The Italian Woman”.

The Italian Woman by Malangatana

“The Italian Woman” is the embodiment of a dream set in motion by Malangatana. A masterpiece. A brand new FIAT 500 was the canvas that inspired the artist, and it is now presented in auction to the World. The proceeds of its sale will be donated to the Malangatana Valente Ngwenya Foundation, to preserve the artist’s portfolio, and to promote human wellbeing through art and culture.

The Italian Woman by Malangatana

The idea was conceived in the end of 2010 when the long-time friends Malangatana and the Ferreira Dos Santos family together decided to develop a project of artistic and cultural value that would serve as a major beneficial social cause. A brand new FIAT 500 was going to be painted, auctioned and its result would be donated to the Malangatana Valente Ngwenya foundation.

Very sadly “The Italian Woman” became Malanganata’s final masterpiece, as the artist passed away on the 5th of January 2011.

The Italian Woman by Malangatana

A brand-new FIAT 500 served as the inspirational canvas for the artist's imagination. Day after day, on his way to Tecnica Industrial FIAT’s dealership, where Malangatana worked under cover, he would announce that he had a meeting with his "Italian Woman". He took weeks to “kiss her”, but when he finally did, he created her in just 12 days of work. A masterpiece, with huge technical challenges.

The Italian Woman by Malangatana

Malangatana working on The Italian Woman

The result is a striking fusion of Italian design and evocative African symbolism. The flanks of the 500 are adorned with mesmerising native and nature-inspired imagery; a unique touch embellishing the rear and the dashboard is Malangatana's characteristically flamboyant signature embossed in aluminum.

Malangatana committed himself to his challenge with amazing passion and harmony, as if he knew that this was going to be his final work. The mobile masterpiece was unveiled at the dealership's inauguration by relatives of Malangatana and the Ferreira Dos Santos family, the latter of course being the owners of the FIAT dealership and the patrons of this shared initiative, that donated the vehicle and also all the art materials.

The Italian Woman by Malangatana

Throughout his life Master Malangatana nurtured a dream: to improve human wellbeing and development, especially on the younger people, through art and culture. It was towards making this dream come true that he personally created the Malangatana Valente Ngwenya Foundation and decided to grab the challenge we now call “The Italian Girl”, which was conceived and developed together with Ferreira dos Santos family, with which he had a strong relationship with 3 generations.

The end result of this auction is to set this dream in motion. The proceeds of its sale will be donated by Ferreira dos Santos family to the Foundation, which now starts its work, an effective continuation of the lifelong work of Master Malangatana.

About Malangatana

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya was born on the 6th of June 1936, in the district of Marracuene. He was a renowned Mozambican artist and poet, known internationally by his first name.

He produced and worked in several areas, from painting, sculpture, ceramics, murals to poetry and music. His works revolved around political and historical happenings in Mozambique, focusing until 1975 on the injustices perpetrated by the Portuguese colonialism and the anti-colonial war.

Post independence, the focus shifted to themes centred on the civil war. After this period his work began to evolve around broader, universal themes, capturing life's hardships and its heroic aspects; thereafter the 80's were a more sensual period focusing on love.

Along the years, he had several personal exhibitions in Mozambique and around the world. He was awarded the Nachingwea medal for his contribution to Mozambican culture and was made part of an official Order of Infante D. Henrique in Portugal. In 1997, UNESCO named him "Artist for Peace" and was handed the Prince Claus prize.

He was awarded: diploma and silver medal as a member "Honoris Causa" of Tomase Campanella Academy of Arts and Sciences; honorary member of the same Academy, 1970; Grand Officer of the Order of Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil, 1990; medal Nachingwea for his contribution to the Mozambican culture; Artist for Peace, UNESCO; Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, Portugal, 1995; In 1997, UNESCO named him "Artist for Peace" and he was given the Prince Claus Award; awarded the prize "Africa Today" - Fine Arts, 2002; awarded the "Order Eduardo Mondlane 'of Grade 1, 2006; Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters, France, 2007; Doctor Honoris Causa from the Polytechnic University, Maputo, 2007; Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Evora, Portugal; and Member of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, 2010.

He passed away on the 5th of January in Matosinhos, Portugal.

Posted By: Allan Kapten

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