Angolan Art

Marking forty years of Angolan independence, this book brings together forty works by twenty contemporary Angolan artists. Paintings and sculptures by young artists appear alongside the work of an older generation; well-established names sit beside newcomers. Collected in this book, their different viewpoints converge to create a snapshot of the past decade in Angola—the first years of peace after a long civil war. Violence and poverty are pervasive themes, but equally strong is the sense that Angolans are tired of being defined solely by their suffering. The works in this book clamor for a new identity—one defined by what Angola is building rather than what it still lacks.
           
Conceived and edited by the Fundação Arte e Cultura, a foundation for the arts based in Luanda, this book introduces readers to a rich cross-section of contemporary art in Angola. Each artwork is printed on a loose sheet, allowing readers to rearrange or frame their favorites, while a booklet provides context and biographical information in both Portuguese and English. Angolan Art is both a lavish celebration of these artworks and an introduction to their place in Angolan culture as a whole.