Interview
Sebastiao Coana
Born in 1987, Sebastiao is a Mozambican contemporary artist renowned for making a multifaceted array of creative work, including sculptural installations, street arts, and oil paintings inspired and fascinated by daily life and dynamic colors. Recent public artworks include Story of Matola: over 50m wide mural art for the newly constructed municipal building of Matola in Matola city.
Mural Arts for Bring Back Maputo Project: 3000square meters block with a series of artworks that turned a red-light district into new tourism that employs sex workers like cleaners, the area was painted with art murals with messages of hope and social integration and empowerment of sex workers in downtown Maputo city the project is ongoing with the support of local companies and Maputo municipality government.
Coana was born in a rural area in the district of Manhiça where he survived brutal civil war attacks with his family. Growing up in an underdeveloped community that destroyed civil war, he developed a strong sense of social development and bore the burden of reconstruction where he channels part of his art income to social causes in rural areas. Coana is the recipient of several innovation prizes for sustainable development goals, including the 2018 international prize of AbinBev Africa Sustainability Challenge for climate change in South Africa, and the 2019 TOTAL rural sustainable development startupper of the Year in Mozambique, among other prizes.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I graduated in the school of architecture in the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing (CAFA) in 2012, and I hold a Masters degree in International Finance from University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing. I discovered my talent in art at an early age in 1995. Later, in 2000, I joined the youth art program of the National Museum of Arts in Maputo. My paintings and street art murals are in several public and private collections in Mozambique, including the National Museum of Arts and in over 25 countries worldwide, from China, New York, Mozambique, South Africa, Finland, and others. As a result of my travels, I am fluent in English, Portuguese, and Mandarin.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My recent mural works across Mozambique advocates on the social issues of gender-based violence and premature marriage. I feel like women cry in silence and my street art helps transmit the pain and raises awareness of the negative social impact of gender-based violence.”
“When you want to make the main color pure and bright, don’t just keep adding bright colors on it. Make the colors around the spot darker and dull. It will give the scene dramatical effects. I think that life is the same. - Hiroko Sakai .”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“Art shipping solution made with lightweight recycled or recyclable materials, and art made with recycled scraps.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I plan my work in advance.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“I love all pieces of my artworks equally.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc, do you use to create your artwork?
“I am a multidisciplinary artist, I do street art with a combination of scrap metals and sometimes limit myself to paints.”
What does your art mean to you?
“My art is an instrument to voice that which touches me. I was raised by a hardworking mother who sold fresh sea food in the streets of Maputo to feed her 5 children. From the early moments of my life I had an example of a hardworking woman. Later, in secondary school, my principal was a woman who believed in my talent as well. The national art museum director was another woman who played a huge roll in my career, and the female director of Maputo Cultural Cente (Casa da Cultura do Alto Maé) also helped me to launch my first solo art show at 16 years old.
I have had different women from different parts of the world playing huge roles in my life. In a developing country where gender equality is still a serious concern, I always wondered if we could have more women empowered, then we could have a society empowered. Recently I decided to paint murals in rural areas to raise awareness about gender-based domestic violence with local non-governmental organizations including UNICEF and others.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2020 – Live art painting to support victims of terrorism in Cabo Delegado and Curated Expo KuImbondi, in Galeria Porto de Maputo, Mozambique.
2019 -Expo Transcending, Maputo city Mall-Maputo, Mozambique
2017 – Annual Expo National Museum of Arts Maputo, Moçambique
2015 – Symphony of Cultures- Kempinski hotel, Beijing, China
2014 – Taipei Art Revolution – Taipei, Taiwan
2013 – Taipei Art Revolution – Taipei, Taiwan
2012 – Taipei Art Revolution – Taipei, Taiwan
2012 – “Inspiring Artists” Fox Gallery, Shanghai, China
2011 – Taipei Art Revolution – Taipei, Taiwan
2010 – “The Girl of Oranges” Maputo, Mozambique
2008 – “Inspiring Artists Group Show” in Beijing Colors of Joy Gallery – Beijing 798, China
2007 – “Colored Africa” Beijing Colors of Joy Gallery – Beijing 798, China
2007 – “Rising Hope” Mozambican Association of Photography – Maputo, Mozambique.
2006 – “Africa – China Young Artists Exhibition” Colors of Joy Art Gallery – Beijing 798 Beijing, China
2005 – “The Moon of Yesterday” Maputo Cultural House – Maputo, Mozambique
2005 – “Behind the Canvas” Newtown Johannesburg, South Africa
2005 – “New York Art Expo 05” Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre – NY, United States of America.
2004 – “Descoberta Art Fair” Brasil Cultural Centre Maputo, Mozambique.
2004 – “Expo Annual Musart 2004” Location Maputo, Mozambique.
2003 – “Young Artists from Portuguese Speaking Countries” group exhibition, Camoes Institute Exhibition Hall – Maputo, Mozambique.
2003 – “World Youth Arts Expo” Confirm the hall Hyvinkaan – Finland.
2003 – “Brasil Cultural Centre Annual Art Show”. Brasil Cultural Centre – Maputo, Mozambique
2002 – “Expo Annual Musart 2002” National Art Museum – Maputo, Mozambique.”
