‘Kaleidoscope: Portraits of a Traveler’ (Caleidoscópio: Retratos de um Viajante) is curated by Jamil (Parasol) Osmar. It features a series of eleven completely unpublished painting works that portray the intricate web of human experience woven through the perspective of Benigno Mangovo as a traveller immersed in the unique reality of Luanda Island.
Benigno Mangovo, Retratos de seres e Elementos da Floresta, Do bairro e da praia, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100cm. Courtesy of the artist and THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE.
Benigno Mangovo’s work transcends mere visual aesthetic conception, evolving through intellectual insight into a channel for dialogue and introspection. His work is not confined to a simple set of mimetic representations. Still, it is constructed as a kaleidoscopic vision of countless narratives that call upon the audience to embody the characters he evokes and to feel the pulse of the communities thriving in the shadow of urban expansion.
The artist, as a Traveler, moves through this dissonant microcosm surrounding the insular peninsula of Luanda. Each brushstroke configures a word, each colour a phrase in the vivid history of the resilience and hope of the islander. The Traveler’s candid optimism becomes contagious as one delves into this enclave of humanity: discerning beauty in the mundane, a kindred spirit in every face and in every alleyway, an epic story deserving to be told.
Benigno’s preference for a low-fidelity approach eliminates the superfluous, focusing on the essence of his themes. The minimalist hyperbolization reflects the simplicity and clarity of the Traveler’s perceptions. At the same time, the choice of a primary colour palette speaks of the fertile inner profusions of the individuals he encounters.
‘Kaleidoscope: Portraits of a Traveler’ is a celebration of humanity, the testament of an adventurous and exploratory spirit, a pilgrimage, an appeal to explore the inner landscapes of our own journeys, to find the Traveler within us all, encouraging us to look beyond the surface, to see the world not as it is, but as it could be – full of hope, beauty, and the infinite potential of the human spirit. It will serve as a space where each visitor becomes a traveller, each gaze an exploration, and each painting a return to the heart of what it truly means to be alive.
The exhibition will be on view from the 9th of May until the 8th of June, 2024. For more information, please visit THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE.
