The Impenetrable Throne, 2019

Mabunda draws on the collective memory of his country, Mozambique, which has only recently emerged from a long and terrible civil war. He works with arms recovered in 1992 at the end of the sixteen-year conflict that divided the region. In his sculpture, he gives anthropomorphic forms to AK47s, rocket launchers, pistols and other objects of destruction. While the masks could be said to draw on a local history of traditional African art, Mabunda’s work takes on a striking Modernist edge akin to imagery by Braque and Picasso.

The deactivated weapons of war carry strong political connotations, yet the beautiful objects he creates also convey a positive reflection on the transformative power of art and the resilience and creativity of African civilian societies.

About artist

Goncalo Mabunda

Mabunda draws on the collective memory of his country, Mozambique, which has only recently emerged from a long and terrible civil war. He works with arms recovered in 1992 at the end of the sixteen-year conflict that divided the region.

In his sculpture, he gives anthropomorphic forms to AK47s, rocket launchers, pistols and other objects of destruction. While the masks could be said to draw on a local history of traditional African art, Mabunda’s work takes on a striking Modernist edge akin to imagery by Braque and Picasso. The deactivated weapons of war carry strong political connotations, yet the beautiful objects he creates also convey a positive reflection on the transformative power of art and the resilience and creativity of African civilian societies.

Mabunda is most well known for his thrones. According to the artist, the thrones function as attributes of power, tribal symbols and traditional pieces of ethnic African art. They are without a doubt an ironic way of commenting on his childhood experience of violence and absurdity and the civil war in Mozambique that isolated his country for a long period.

Mabunda was born in 1975, in Maputo, Mozambique. He will represent his country at the Mozambique Pavilion at the upcoming Venice Biennale. Recent exhibitions include the Gangwon International Biennale, South Korea, ‘All the World’s Futures’ at 2015 Venice Biennale, and ‘Making Africa’ at the Vitra Museum, Germany, among others. His work has been acquired by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Brooklyn Museum.

About Gallery

Jack Bell Gallery

Jack Bell Gallery opened in London in 2010. The focus of the gallery is to exhibit, represent and champion contemporary artists from around the world. The programme includes twelve exhibitions every year as well as art fairs in London and New York.

Gallery artists have been included in important exhibitions at the Venice Biennale, Brooklyn Museum, New York; Grand Palais, Paris; Guggenheim Bilbao; Camden Arts Centre, London; Salon 94, New York; Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Saatchi Gallery, London among others.

Acquisitions have been made by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Brooklyn Museum, National Gallery of Canada, Victoria & Albert Museum London, Carnegie Museum of Art Pittsburgh and Manchester Art Gallery UK.

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The Impenetrable Throne, 2019

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