MARIO MACILAU
Artworks
Untitled 60x90 cm
edition of 6
Untitled 60x90 cm
edition of 6
Biography
Mário Macilau is a multidisciplinary artist and activist, best known for his photographic work which he started in 2003. He was born in 1984 in Maputo and grew up, as do many children, working hard to help support his family in what were difficult circumstances within Mozambique. Over the years, his work came to a wide audience internationally, with him winning several major awards, travelling extensively seeing his work featured in some of the most prestigious galleries, art fairs and exhibitions globally.
His photographic practice highlights identity, political issues and environmental conditions, at times working with socially isolated groups to bring to his audience not only awareness of the many social injustices and inequalities in the world, but also scenes of humanity, brotherhood, victory, love and hope, often taking portraiture as a point of departure, his approach being a key to unlock a broader perspective.
For Macilau, photography has the power to reveal stark truths about life, to develop the social consciousness and perception of issues in Mozambique and elsewhere. His photographs reveal how particular environments affect individuals in their domestic and working lives, always seeking to establish a level of trust with his subjects to prevent the physical presence of his camera becoming a mental or emotional barrier to his subjects.
He has also been selected as a Jury Member in several international photographic competitions and over time, became aware of the impact that art can have on social consciousness and public opinion. This awareness has led him to build a studio in a township in Maputo, where he could expand his personal creative activities and also provide art education and outreach projects. This venture has now progressed to include an International Artist-in-Residence programme, encouraging collaboration between emerging international visual artists and the local community. He also regularly attends the Annual Photography Master Class in Africa organized by the Goethe Institute, Johannesburg.
Exhibitions
Macilau’s work has been featured regularly in solo and group exhibitions in his home country and abroad such as the 1:54 Art Fair in London, UK (2018), Art Madrid in Madrid, Spain, (2018 and 2019), Art Marbella, Spain, (2018), Third Beijing Photo Biennale, Beijing, China, (2018), Unseen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (2018), FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa, (2018), The Global Climate Summit, San Francisco, USA, (2018), The High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, (2018), IPhoton Festival, Valéncia, Spain, (2017), Krakow Photomonth Festival, Krakow, Poland, (2017), the Indian Photography Festival-IPF, (2017), Hyderabad, India, (2017), Berlin Art Week at Kehrer Gallery, Berlin, Germany, (2017), Sicily Photobook Festival, Sicily, Italy, (2017), Porto Photo Fest, Proto, Portugal, (2017), “I don’t like Black People but I do like you”, Paulo Nunes Gallery, Portugal, (2017), Tbilisi Photo Festival, Tbilisi, Georgia, (2017), AKAA Art Fair, Paris, France, (2016), Macilau was also selected by Fotofestiwal in Łódź, Poland to present his first monograph ‘Growing in Darkness’ at a huge solo exhibition within the festival entitled ‘Discovery Show’ (2015). Other notable solo shows includes his participation at the 56th Venice Biennale, Italy, (2015), ‘The Road Not Taken’ at The Auction Room, London, (2015), ‘Nada Como O Tempo’ curated by Berry Bickle at Kulungwana Gallery in Maputo (2015), ENTRY PROHIBITED TO FOREIGNERS, Havremagasinet – Boden Art Center, Sweden, 2015, the Pangaea: New Art from Africa and Latin America, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK,
(2014), Fotofest Biennial, Houston, Texas, USA, (2014) and many others. His work is held in many private and public collections worldwide.