René Tavares São Tomé and Principe, b. 1983
Overview
René Tavares’ work is based on a process of research spanning through archives, photographs, and literature while bringing to the front stage themes related to historical and socio-political issues that affected different African countries. With a preference for painting and drawing, Tavares’ artistic practice also includes photography, video, and installation. The artist’s work evolves and expands in the form of projects and series that develop over time according to his own experiences of transition between different artistic languages, between the African and European continents, between insular and continental Africa, also between the local and the global, the individual and the collective. By questioning assimilated, neglected, and forgotten heritages and challenging the rigidity of categories and prejudices, the artist’s works are produced in an impulsive and engaged mode to raise awareness and trigger processes of resilience and social empowerment.
Using a palette of rich, deep, and earthy colors and working the canvas in layers and all over, Tavares' figurative universe, with its dreamlike atmosphere, is filled with memories and human presence, faces and gazes that look at us throughout space and time. The works also emphasize iconographic and symbolic elements such as cotton flower fields and plantations, specific animals, objects and housings, and the depiction of group portraits. These collective pictures of men and women, either standing peacefully or shown in their interactions and daily activities, aim to reflect on the historical processes of hybridization and miscegenation happening between several ethnic groups, communities, and cultures including components assimilated during the colonial and post-colonial eras. Either through his paintings or multi-medium installations which often included striking words referring to racism and discrimination, Tavares fuses references taken from ancestral practices and belief systems, collective memories, and heritage with contemporaneity and globalization. Thus, the whole work highlights the processes of appropriation, integration, and merging of heterogeneous religious, social, and cultural components that compose many African cultures.
Tavares holds a Bachelor's in Fine Arts and Visual Arts from the Dakar School of Fine Arts (Senegal), a postgraduate degree in Visual Arts, Painting and Photography from the Rennes School of Fine Arts (France), and a Master's in Art and Heritage Sciences from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon (Portugal). Highlights of his career include the selection as a finalist for the EDP Foundation New Artists Award (2022), the Public Vote Prize for the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize (2022), the nomination for Africa’s most influential new artistic talent (FNB Joburg Art Fair, 2018), and the Artist Revelation Prize at São Tomé and Príncipe’s biennale of Art and Culture (2002). René Tavares' work is included in several relevant collections, such as the Collection of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI of Marocco, the PLMJ Foundation (Portugal), Kloser Contemporary Art, AAD - African Artist for Development, Omali Lodge - HBD Group, Sindika Dakolo Collection, World Bank Collection of the Government of São Tomé and Principe, EDP Foundation Collection, Lisbon City Council Collection, Norval Foundation Collection and Schulting Art Collection.
Works
Exhibitions
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The Atlantic is Black
SOLO SHOW BY RENÉ TAVARES 11 September - 2 November 2024In partnership with ARTCO gallery, THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE is proud to present “The Atlantic is Black” - the first solo exhibition by São Toméan artist René Tavares...Read more -
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 -
INTERCULTURAL ENCOUNTERS AND DIALOGUES
GROUP SHOW 1 June - 7 July 2023We are pleased to present in Lisbon 'Intercultural Encounters and Dialogues' - an Africa-focused photography group exhibition. The show presents about 21 works by artists Dagmar Van Weeghel, Maya-Inès Touam,...Read more -
PARAGONE: What’s with mediums today?
INTERNATIONAL GROUP SHOW 26 May - 20 August 2023The PARAGONE exhibition offers a guided tour program that promotes the rediscovery in three stages of a historical heritage—unknown to many—linked to the city of Lisbon’s water supply: Cape Verde...Read more
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(IM)MATERIALITY
Group Show 1 October 2022 - 15 January 2023“(IM)MATERIALITY” promotes a reflection on the concepts of materiality and immateriality, highlighting works by artists from a wide variety of cultural and geographical origins, whose practices cross spatial and technical...Read more -
(IM)MATERIALITY
GROUP SHOW 20 May - 12 August 2022The exhibition promotes a reflection on the concepts of materiality and immateriality, highlighting around 90 works by 48 artists from a wide variety of cultural and geographical origins - including...Read more -
IN MEMORY WE TRUST
Solo Show: René Tavares 27 May - 17 July 2021In its 5t h year of existence, THIS NOT A WHITE CUBE expands its international presence with the opening of a new space in Lisbon (Chiado), on may 27th. To...Read more -
DISCOURSES OF DECOLONIALITY
Group Show: Not a Museum 24 June - 30 September 2020THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE art gallery, in partnership with Not A Museum - Art Mexto, presents the exhibition “Discourses of Decoloniality'. It will be on display between June...Read more
Art Fairs
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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
Group Show: Rafiki, René Tavares, Pedro Pires 12 - 15 October 2023We are pleased to return for another edition of 1-54 London! We will be presenting works by the artists Rafiki, René Tavares, and Pedro Pires....Read more -
ARCO LISBOA 2023
Group Show: Manuela Pimentel, Cássio Markowski, Pedro Pires, René Tavares 25 - 28 May 2023ARCOlisboa 2023 will once again turn the Portuguese capital into a meeting point for collectors, gallery owners, artists, and professionals from all over the world....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
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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 -
ARCO Lisboa 2021
Group Show: Dagmar Van Weeghel, Francisco Vidal, Nelo Teixeira, Patrick Bongoy, Pedro Pires, and René Tavares 13 - 19 September 2021The International Contemporary Art Fair ARCO LISBOA 2021 runs in an online format, due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. THIS IS NOT A...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
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African Galleries Now x Artsy 2020
Group Show: ALIDA RODRIGUES, LUÍS DAMIÃO, RENÉ TAVARES, and OSVALDO FERREIRA 23 November - 13 December 2020THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE is showing a curated project with unreleased works of photography by ALIDA RODRIGUES (Angola), LUÍS DAMIÃO (Angola), and RENÉ...Read more -
ARCO Lisboa 2020
Group Show: Januário Jano, Patrick Bongoy, Pedro Pires, Nelo Teixeira, Gonçalo Mabunda, Luís Damião, and René Tavares 20 May - 14 June 2020For ARCO Art Fair 2020, This Is Not a White Cube presents a project connecting unreleased artworks by 7 contemporary artists from Angola, Mozambique, DRC,...Read more -
Cape Town Art Fair 2020
Group Show: Alida Rodrigues, Januario Jano, Nelo Teixeira, and René Tavares 14 - 16 February 2020THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE presents a project connecting unreleased artworks by 4 contemporary artists from Angola, São Tomé e Príncipe and its diaspora,...Read more
Press
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"Embodied Narratives"
Collective exhibition in Lisbone-cultura -
(IM)MATERIALITY Águeda's Art Centre
RTP, 8 October 2022 -
(IM)MATERIALITY: NOT A MUSEUM receives international art exhibition
por VÁRIOS, VOU SAIR , 14 August 2022 -
1-54 Art Fair Celebrates 10th London Edition
TSA Contemporary Art Magazine, 9 October 2022 -
AFRICA The Revelations
Marina Almeida, PORTICO, 1 November 2021 -
Águeda Arts Center hosts exhibition of more than 40 artists: a reflection on the materiality and immateriality
Comunidade Cultura e Arte, 26 September 2022 -
Angolan artists participate in international exhibition
Roque Silva, Jornal de Angola, 24 May 2023 -
ARCOlisboa exceeds 13,000 visitors
Público, 29 May 2023 -
ARCOLisboa galleries to watch and other news
ARTAFRICA, 24 May 2023 -
ART WITHOUT BIG RISKS - EDP NEW ARTISTS AWARD
Luís Soares de Oliveira, Público, 13 October 2022 -
BANTUMEN POWERLIST 100
René TavaresBANTUMEN -
Com mais galerias africanas, ArcoLisboa procura transcender o espaço da lusofonia
Isabel Salema, Público, 19 May 2022 -
Cultural exchange brings René Tavares to Angola
JORNAL MERCADO, 20 March 2020 -
EDP Foundation NEW ARTISTS Award
Time Out, 13 October 2022 -
EDP New Artists Prize | René Tavares
Isabel Salema, Público, 3 March 2022 -
Francisco Vidal | 1-54 Art Fair London: Six Favourite Exhibits
Lee Sharrock, ARTLYST, 16 October 2022 -
Gazes from the South: the Tchiloli and the work of René Tavares
ANA NOLASCO, AFRICAN ARTS, 11 August 2020 -
Intercultural Encounters and Dialogues
e-cultura, 23 June 2023 -
International Contemporary Art Exhibition will be in Lisbon starting May 26
Lusa e SIC Notícias, 16 May 2023 -
Interview with René Tavares
INÁCIO SACANDONGO, JORNAL MERCADO, 27 March 2020 -
Lisbon’s Growing Gallery Scene Is a Haven for Art Collectors
Pedro Garcia, ARTSY, 23 May 2024 -
MIGRATION AND THINGS BY RENÉ TAVARES
Inácio Sacandongo, Jornal Mercado, 24 March 2020 -
Migrations and Things – Tchilololi Unlimited. ART AFRICA spoke to artist René Tavares
Storm Simpson, ART AFRICA, 1 February 2020 -
Moedas wants to create a Museum of Contemporary Art with the council's collection
Maria João Costa, Renascença, 24 May 2024 -
New Artists Award EDP
Isabel Salema, Público, 13 October 2022 -
Portraits for English to see in The Africa Centre
Mariana Baião Santos, UMBIGO, 24 October 2023 -
Portraits for English to See: THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE in partnership with The Africa Center presents René Tavares
ARTAFRICA, ARTAFRICA, 4 October 2023 -
René Tavares exhibits in Lisbon and Luanda
Téla Nón, 18 May 2021 -
René Tavares reflects on heritage and identity in "In Memory We Trust"
The Portugal News, 15 June 2021 -
René Tavares to exhibit solo for the first time in the UK
BANTUMEN, 4 October 2023 -
RENÉ TAVARES | MIGRATION AND THINGS. PATCHES OF ONE STORY ONLY
BANTUMEN, 11 June 2020 -
René Tavares: Portraits for English to See
Solo Show at The Africa Centre, in LondonC&10, 4 October 2023 -
RENÉ TAVARES: Public Vote Winner NORVAL SOVEREIGN AFRICAN ART PRIZES
ART PRIZES, 16 February 2022 -
São Toméan artist René Tavares opens solo exhibition in London
Pedro Mbinza, Forbes África Lusófona, 9 October 2023 -
The freedom to make art in Portuguese
René Tavares & Gonçalo MabundaPúblico, 12 February 2024 -
This Is Not a White Cube opens new space in Lisbon
Plataforma Media, 25 May 2021 -
THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE partners with The Africa Center to presents René Tavares
Art Report Africa, 8 October 2023 -
We are all culture consumers of culture, each one in his own way
MIRENE DA CRUZ, EXPANSAO, 1 May 2020 -
We went to see "IN MEMORY WE TRUST"
Wilds Gomes , BANTUMEN, 28 May 2021 -
Women in community: an artistic analysis of the female role in the conservation of cultural heritage by Manel Ndoye and René Tavares
René Tavares on display in Geneveonart, 19 January 2024
Video
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Discourses de Decoloniality
24 June - 30 September 2020 23 March 2023 -
PARAGONE: What's with mediums today?
Group Show 29 June 2023 -
René Tavares | ROOTS 2023
Entrevista Roots 2023 24 July 2023During the ROOTS 2023 residency we were talking to the artists who told us about their work, processes, artistic practices and their experience in this...Read more -
Exhibition catalog: Migrations and Things by René Tavares
Galeria Banco Económico, Luanda- Angola, 2020 27 May 2020The DIGITAL CATALOG of RENÉ TAVARES' solo exhibition is now available. Read and explore online at: https://issuu.com/gracarodrigu.../docs/ct1_renetavares_be_v3Read more -
Cereja no topo do bolo #8 - CHAT WITH René Tavares
PODCAST BY SUSANA CEREJA 30 June 2021 -
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 -
(IM)MATERIALITY
international art exhibition 1 July 2022 -
(IM)MATERIALITY
INTERNATIONAL GROUP SHOW AT ÁGUEDA ARTS CENTER 1 October 2022 -
RENÉ TAVARES: ESTADO NOVO DO ATLÂNTICO
Exhibition EDP Foundation New Artists Award 2022 | MAAT Museum 11 January 2023Composed of two sculpture-paintings (Carruagem lusa [Portuguese carriage] and “Piá mú” / Olha p’ra mim / Look at me) and a video projection-painting (Wash station),...Read more
Publications
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IN MEMORY WE TRUST | Solo Show by René Tavares
Exhibition Catalogue 2021A4Read more
Publisher: THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE
Dimensions: 30 x 21 cm -
Migrations and Things
Exhibition Catalogue René Tavares, 2020E-book, 51 pagesRead more
Publisher: This is Not a White Cube
Dimensions: 210 x 297 -
PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEE | Solo Show by René Tavares
Exhibition Catalogue Graça Rodrigues, Paula Nascimento, 2023A4, 32 pagesRead more
Publisher: THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE Gallery
Dimensions: 297 x 210 mm -
Tchiloli Unlimited
Book René Tavares, 2020HardbackRead more
Dimensions: 210 x 297mm
Events
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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
Group Show: Rafiki, René Tavares, Pedro Pires 12 - 15 October 2023We are pleased to return for another edition of 1-54 London! We will be presenting works by the artists Rafiki, René Tavares, and Pedro Pires....Read more -
ARCO LISBOA 2023
Group Show: Manuela Pimentel, Cássio Markowski, Pedro Pires, René Tavares 25 - 28 May 2023ARCOlisboa 2023 will once again turn the Portuguese capital into a meeting point for collectors, gallery owners, artists, and professionals from all over the world....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
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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 -
ARCO Lisboa 2021
Group Show: Dagmar Van Weeghel, Francisco Vidal, Nelo Teixeira, Patrick Bongoy, Pedro Pires, and René Tavares 13 - 19 September 2021The International Contemporary Art Fair ARCO LISBOA 2021 runs in an online format, due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. THIS IS NOT A...Read more -
Opening: Solo Show by René Tavares
In Memory We Trust 27 May 2021THIS NOT A WHITE CUBE contemporary art gallery expands its international presence with the opening of a new space in Chiado, one of the most...Read more
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