Gumatsy's Gallery
Artist's Bio - Gumatsy was born in 1968 in the Aeroporto neighborhood of Maputo, Mozambique. During early adolescence, Gumatsy began painting with his uncle, who is the internationally acclaimed painter Malangatana. Spending time painting at Malangata's studio provided an escape from Gumatsy's occasionally tumultuous home life... more
Senta Baixo (Sitting Low)
Dimensions: 38” x 32” | Price (unframed): $525.00
Artist's Description - As one of the poorest countries in the world, formal employment covers only a small minority of the population. The vast majority of the population relies on subsistence farming or the informal economy for their livelihood. However, the informal economy forces many people to search for work on a daily basis and leaves many people behind, especially the elderly. This piece depicts the despair arising from the inability to find work. It is common for those unable to find work to gather in the center of the village and consume a traditional beverages.
No Jail House (In the Jail House)
Dimensions: 25” x 23” | Price (unframed): $400.00
Artist's Description - From an early age, the artist noticed that people caged up animals, and even other people, for their own ends. The artist felt that this practice demeaned both the captor and the individual restrained against his or her will and that a mentality that aims to restrain others is short-sided and counterproductive. This piece espouses personal liberation in order to unlock our own potential as well as that of others.
Sala de Musica (Musica Room)
Dimensions: 29” x 22” | Price (unframed): $575.00
Artist's Description - The violin is not a traditional instrument in Mozambique. It's much more common to see guitars, but the violin is representative of classical music. In many cases, Mozambican artists don't have all of the conditions necessary in order to develop their talent. This piece contradicts this reality by showing a classical instrument with all the supporting conditions necessary for success.
Primeira Nota (First Note)
Dimensions: 31” x 26” | Price (unframed): $500.00
Artist's Description - For the people that grow up in the outskirts of the city, moving to the downtown area is seen as a large step up in life. "Everyone who grows up in my neighborhood dreams of leaving the shanty-town and raising a family in a high rise apartment building." For the person who first learns how to play an instrument, music is the potential means to improving one's life. Learning to play the first note on the guitar is the first step towards a better life.
Serenta Doce (Sweet Serenade)
Dimensions: 28” x 22” | Price (unframed): $425.00 SOLD
Artist's Description - The violin is not a traditional instrument in Mozambique. It's much more common to see guitars, but the violin is representative of classical music. In many cases, Mozambican artists don't have all of the conditions necessary in order to develop their talent. This piece contradicts this reality by showing a classical instrument with all the supporting conditions necessary for success.
Preco do Pao (The Price of Bread)
Dimensions: 26” x 21” | Price (unframed): $525.00 SOLD
Artist's Description - Given that there is a lot of poverty in Mozambique and very little formal work, there is a large informal economy where people sell lots of little things. In every part of the country, woman are found sitting at tables in front of their houses selling a variety of items. However, women intermingle day-to-day activities with the informal livelihoods of selling bread, peanuts or other goods. This piece communicates that selling bread isn't just a means of earning a daily wage; it's also serves as an opportunity to find a husband or wife.
O Sal e Troca (Salt and Trade)
Dimensions: 28” x 22” | Price (unframed): $450.00 SOLD
Artist's Description - Due to the fact that formal employment is almost non-existent in rural areas, some rural economies are based on a bartering system rather than a cash economy. Salt has been used for centuries as a basis for trade due to its widespread use in food. This piece shows a woman at a local market waiting to trade salt for other goods.
Fontenario (The Well)
Dimensions: 39” x 31” | Price (unframed): $575.00 SOLD
Artist's Description - Water is a very precious resource and maintains both rural and urban life. Although water is needed for survival, there isn't sufficient access to it in many villages. In some cases, there are 50 to 100 families dependent upon one spigot for all of their water needs. Water is commonly only available for a few hours a day, so people store as much of it as possible in containers when they have the chance to collect it. This work shows a young woman waiting for the water to be turned on.
Galleries of other Mozambican artists you may like: Simbine, Maketo, Male
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Hugo Ovalle
Alfred Kimani
Gumatsy
