Cultural Journal Report
Malangatana Ngwenya, Mozambican Painter and Poet, Dies at 74
By Holland Cotter
Published on January 8, 2011 in The New York Times
By Holland Cotter
Published on January 8, 2011 in The New York Times
Malangatana Ngwenya died on January 5th, 2011. Ngwenya was not only a unique painter and poet, but also a political activist during harsh times in Mozambique. During a civil war in Mozambique, Ngwenya’s painting’s reflected the mood of harshness of the war. Ngwenya became a successful painter and had solo shows around the world. He also participated in the intense politics of Mozabique at that time, including becoming a representative to the parliament. Ngywenya was a founding member of the Mozambique Peace Movement.He even spent 18 months in jail for his political activism, arrested by the Portuguese police. In addition to being a great artist and a political activist, Ngwenya was also a very generous person. Once, he was on a flight and was bombarded quickly with fans asking for sketches, and he accomodated them all.
To me, Malangatana Ngwenya’s art, in addition to being beautiful, reflected and showed how Ngenya and much of the country felt during times of political unrest, war, and peace. His paintings revealed how the people felt and spoke in his community. I believe this makes his art more than paint on a canvas. His poetry did the same because Ngenya’s poems spoke about the cruelty of the war and his longing for peace. Ngwenya's art was an expression of emotion, which is what I believe is what all art should do. I believe this is what make Ngenya’s artwork unique and powerful.
This article ties into the culture of Mozambique because of the art produced by Malangatana Ngwenya. Ngenya was one of the few African painters who obtained fame wothout traveling abroad. He was able to do this because Ngenya painted and wrote poems about the culture in his community. His paintings were and important because he showed how people were living in Mozambique. Ngenya’s paintings also preserved the culture of Mozambique through harsh times in the form of his great artwork.
To me, Malangatana Ngwenya’s art, in addition to being beautiful, reflected and showed how Ngenya and much of the country felt during times of political unrest, war, and peace. His paintings revealed how the people felt and spoke in his community. I believe this makes his art more than paint on a canvas. His poetry did the same because Ngenya’s poems spoke about the cruelty of the war and his longing for peace. Ngwenya's art was an expression of emotion, which is what I believe is what all art should do. I believe this is what make Ngenya’s artwork unique and powerful.
This article ties into the culture of Mozambique because of the art produced by Malangatana Ngwenya. Ngenya was one of the few African painters who obtained fame wothout traveling abroad. He was able to do this because Ngenya painted and wrote poems about the culture in his community. His paintings were and important because he showed how people were living in Mozambique. Ngenya’s paintings also preserved the culture of Mozambique through harsh times in the form of his great artwork.