The African Art Centre will host an exhibition of woodcuts by Ezequiel Mabote from April 17 to 30.

A resident artist at the BAT Centre, Ezequiel Mabote was born in 1979 in Mozambique and received his basic art training in secondary schools. He also attended Nucleo do Arte, a popular Art Centre in Maputo. The art classes equipped him with life-drawing and woodcut printing skills and he strove diligently to master his technique.

He also learned much by observing the textile workers and designers of Mozambique as well as by watching the local wood carvers. When he came to the BAT Centre, he was much influenced by Samuel Natangwe Mbingilo, a woodcut artist from the John Muafangejo Art Centre in Namibia.

A perfectionist, Ezequiel is careful and efficient in the production of his craft and his immaculate woodcuts are works of art in themselves. He now produces images that reflect his childhood memories – stories told by his parents and grandparents about his traditional culture and ancestry. His skill at colour registration is much admired.

He has exhibited at various gallery outlets in Durban as well as at the Alliance Française in Durban and Pretoria and at the BAT Centre where he is a resident artist. His works appear in private collections in Europe and America and have been exhibited in Norway.

More information from the African Art Centre on 031 304-7915.