Nália Agostinho is a young Mozambican who is emerging quickly in the world of plastic arts. The artist's most recent solo exhibition, which also marks the opening of her new gallery, is on display in the city of Maputo.
She is one of the most emerging artists in the world of fine arts. But her contact with paper and brush began at an early age. "Yes, I started painting, drawing from a young age. It was the way I had of interacting with my father... he was a very busy person, and when he had some time to spend with me he would give me drafts of his work and I would go and draw," reveals the 31-year-old artist in an interview with MZNews.
And this is how the taste for fine arts was born. We'll get to that in a minute. Years later and after completing her general secondary education, Nália won a scholarship to Italy, where she went to study Political Science. During the eight years she lived in Italy, she divided her time between teaching and working, but it was also during this period that she had the opportunity to make friends and interact with people connected to the arts.
"Italy is an open museum full of artists where fine art carries a lot of weight, and it is taken very seriously," he says, with a serene look. "I know people who live on art and are very successful," he says. And it was at this moment that "the old passion" for fine arts resurfaced in the young entrepreneur.
The return to the arts
Eight years later Nália Agostinho returns to Mozambique to dedicate herself to the artistic life. Of course, the beginning was not easy. Before, she tried to work in other areas, but art is where her soul simmers.
"I actually tried to embrace other areas of activities, but I never felt as connected as I do with the arts. That's why I decided to leave everything to just dedicate myself to the arts, this starting in 2018, confides the young woman in our report.
Today she is a plastic artist with her credits firmly established. "You know, everything that happens here in Mozambique inspires me a lot, that's probably what has strongly contributed to my reappearance in the artistic world," she confesses.
Since her return to Mozambique, Nália Agostinho has participated in several exhibitions, both individual and collective. Internationally, she also had the opportunity to exhibit her works in neighboring South Africa. Currently she is holding her last exhibition in Maputo city, in her new gallery, Liah Art3 Studio Gallery.
Through this new gallery, Nália intends to give the opportunity to other young artists to exhibit their various works. "In fact, I want to give my contribution to the development and visibility of art in Mozambique. This gallery will operate as a creative cultural center and as a service provider," says the artist.
The exhibition, which will be open until the 10th of next month, has 9 works. They are about the Mozambican and Spanish reality. "It was a great challenge".
"I had to go and read a lot about the Don Quixote novel and it was really good. The good part about the creative industries is that, we get to learn things we had no idea about."
For the rest, the exhibition reflects a little on "the ideals of women, situations we find ourselves in, family, personal, goals we want to achieve... all this," says the artist.
The prices of the works range from 150 thousand to 200 thousand meticais. Although she recognizes that there are many revolutionaries, the artist wants to be on the list of this group that does a lot for the arts in Mozambique.
She was recently sworn in as president of the culture portfolio by AMEPRH, where she intends to continue several other projects related to the development of the arts, so that they can have a greater impact on the country's economy.