Cristiano Mangovo Angola, b. 1982
Overview
Cristiano Mangovo grew up as a refugee in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spent most of his professional career in Angola's turbulent society. As a result, the Angolan phrase "Winkeba e Nkeba bu Nkaka" ("Protect yourselves and protect others too") has naturally become the central theme of his artwork. With a strong activist slant, his work often appeals to the need to protect weaker people from the stronger, calling for more balanced societies with improved human conditions for all.
Mangovo developed various styles and symbolisms over the years, but always with a distinct surrealist twist. His work has also been dominated by an expressionistic style, characterised by the deformed characters without a complete real-life form that dominates in his paintings and collages.
Mangovo holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa (DRC), having additional urban scenography and performance training. He received early recognition for his work, earning his first solo show in 2013 by the Foundation of Art and Culture in Luanda, which toured Art BAI. In 2014, he was awarded the Mirella Antognoli Prize by the Italian Embassy and Alliance Française, as well as the prestigious Angolan ENSA Art Prize in 2018. Since then, he has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions worldwide. In 2017, his work was recognized in his home country with a solo retrospective exhibition and installation “Riches of Africa”.
Works
Exhibitions
-
EMBODIED NARRATIVES
International group show 21 May - 13 July 2024The show explores a wide variety of media, including painting, ceramics, photography and installation, and encapsulates a growing trend in contemporary African art, which emphasizes figuration and portraiture as vehicles...Read more -
BEYOND BOUNDARIES
GROUP SHOW 25 October 2023 - 9 February 2024With works by Cristiano Mangovo, Gonçalo Mabunda, Luís Damião, Nelo Teixeira, Rómulo Santa Rita, Uólofe Griot and Samuel Nnorom, the exhibition encourages the public to embark on a captivating and...Read more -
SPACES IN BETWEEN
Group Show: Old Palace 17 - 28 May 2019Installed in a palace in 'ruins' in downtown Lisbon, the exhibition aims to reinforce the participation of THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE at ARCO Lisboa 2019, whose focus will...Read more
Art Fairs
-
ARCO LISBOA 2024
Cássio Markowski, Dagmar Van Weeghel, Cristiano Mangovo & René Tavares 23 - 26 May 2024Through this project, the gallery aims to generate a dialogue be tween countries with colonial and historical affinities, reflecting on the concept of decoloniality and...Read more -
1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR MARRAKECH 2024
Group Show: Cássio Markowski, Cristiano Mangovo, Samuel Nnorom 8 - 11 February 2024THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE is delighted to announce its return to the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech set to take place from...Read more -
1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR LONDON 2022
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Francisco Vidal, René Tavares, Stephané E. Conradie, Patrick Bongoy 13 - 16 October 2022We are delighted to return to London for the 10th edition of the fair at Somerset House between 13 – 16 October 2022. This year’s...Read more -
ARCO Lisboa 2022
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Dagmar van weeghel, Francisco Vidal, Patrick Bongoy, René Tavares, and Stephané E. Conradie 19 - 22 May 2022Through this project, the gallery aims to generate a dialogue between countries with colonial and historic affinities which reflects on the concept of decoloniality and...Read more
-
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2021
Group Show: CRISTIANO MANGOVO, STEPHANE E. CONRADIE, PATRICK BONGOY, and RENÉ TAVARES 14 - 17 October 2021We are delighted to return to London for the 9th edition of the fair at Somerset House 14 – 17 October 2021! This edition will...Read more -
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2021
RENÉ TAVARES and CRISTIANO MANGOVO 20 - 23 January 2021THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE art gallery participates at 1-54 Paris at Christie's with a project by RENÉ TAVARES and CRISTIANO MANGOVO . The...Read more -
ARCO Lisboa 2019
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Gonçalo Mabunda, and Patrick Bongoy 16 - 19 May 2019 -
Cape Town Art Fair 2019
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Gonçalo Mabunda, and Nelo Teixeira 15 - 17 February 2019
-
ARTISSIMA 2018
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Gonçalo Mabunda, and Pedro Pires 2 - 4 November 2018 -
FNB Joburg Art Fair 2018
Group Show: Ana Silva, Cristiano Mangovo, Januário Jano, and Nelo Teixeira 6 - 9 September 2018The Gallery This Is Not The White Cube (TINAWC) will be presented for the first time in the 11th Edition of the FNB Joburg Art...Read more
Press
-
Artists challenged to think about the city
Karinne Manita, Vanguarda, Hype, 22 June 2018 -
"Embodied Narratives"
Collective exhibition in Lisbone-cultura -
1-54 Art Fair Celebrates 10th London Edition
TSA Contemporary Art Magazine, 9 October 2022 -
A arte africana está na moda e chegou à ARCOlisboa
Isabel Salema, Público, 16 May 2019 -
Com mais galerias africanas, ArcoLisboa procura transcender o espaço da lusofonia
Isabel Salema, Público, 19 May 2022 -
Francisco Vidal | 1-54 Art Fair London: Six Favourite Exhibits
Lee Sharrock, ARTLYST, 16 October 2022 -
I see 2020 as an intrinsic year for the arts
DOMINGOS AMARO , Jornal Mercado, 17 December 2019 -
Interview with Cristiano Mangovo
MIRENE DA CRUZ, JORNAL EXPANSÃO, 3 February 2021 -
Investec Cape Town Art Fair'19: This is Not a White Cube
ART AFRICA, 13 April 2019 -
Lisbon’s Growing Gallery Scene Is a Haven for Art Collectors
Pedro Garcia, ARTSY, 23 May 2024 -
LUUANDA AOS OLHOS DE HOJE
NILZA RODRIGUES, JORNAL MERCADO, 29 September 2017 -
REFLECT #2: FRAGMENTS, FRAGILITIES, MEMORIES
por VÁRIOS, Buala, 13 April 2022 -
REFLECT #2: FRAGMENTS, FRAGILITIES, MEMORIES The Museum of African Art, Belgrade
Ana Knezevic & Emilia Epstajn, ICOM National Committee Magazine, 15 September 2022 -
TINAWC PRESENTS GROUP EXHIBITION "SPACES IN BETWEEN"
e-cultura, 5 May 2019
Video
-
BEYOND BOUNDARIES
VIDEO OF THE GROUP SHOW BY CRISTIANO MANGOVO, GONÇALO MABUNDA, LUÍS DAMIÃO, NELO TEIXEIRA, RÓMULO SANTA RITA, UÓLOFE GRIOT AND SAMUEL NNOROM 23 January 2024 -
Art can help to overcome the post-colonial Portugal-Africa stigmas
Interview with Graça Rodrigues and João Paulo Sacadura 6 June 2022Interview with Graça Rodrigues, conducted by journalist João Paulo Sacadura for the Portuguese radio station 'Observador' - podcast 'Convidado Extra.' Graça Rodrigues is co-artistic director...Read more
Publications
Events
-
ARCO LISBOA 2024
Cássio Markowski, Dagmar Van Weeghel, Cristiano Mangovo & René Tavares 23 - 26 May 2024Through this project, the gallery aims to generate a dialogue be tween countries with colonial and historical affinities, reflecting on the concept of decoloniality and...Read more -
1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR LONDON 2022
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Francisco Vidal, René Tavares, Stephané E. Conradie, Patrick Bongoy 13 - 16 October 2022We are delighted to return to London for the 10th edition of the fair at Somerset House between 13 – 16 October 2022. This year’s...Read more -
ARCO Lisboa 2022
Group Show: Cristiano Mangovo, Dagmar van weeghel, Francisco Vidal, Patrick Bongoy, René Tavares, and Stephané E. Conradie 19 - 22 May 2022Through this project, the gallery aims to generate a dialogue between countries with colonial and historic affinities which reflects on the concept of decoloniality and...Read more -
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2021
Group Show: CRISTIANO MANGOVO, STEPHANE E. CONRADIE, PATRICK BONGOY, and RENÉ TAVARES 14 - 17 October 2021We are delighted to return to London for the 9th edition of the fair at Somerset House 14 – 17 October 2021! This edition will...Read more