Tatiana Abrantes Artist Painter
The magic and mystery of Africais pivotal to the art of the painter Tatiana Abrantes. Born in Mozambique, she moved with her parents at the age of five to live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where her passion for painting and drawing began. At 19, she studied fine arts at Technikon in Johannesburgand later worked in a bank to earn her living, painting in almost every minute of her spare time. She developed a fascination for the beauty of the countryside and wildlife and found inspiration in ethnic themes relating to Africa and its people, customs and cultural traits. “I have always painted all of my life and it is something I have never stopped doing. In Johannesburg I was also doing a lot of portrait commissions. “They say that Africa is the cradle of humanity and where we all originated. I love everything about Africa, the whole mystery of the country. If you go there you are hooked - the forest, the desert, the wildlife, the culture and the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburgh which has a real buzz.”In 1991, she came to settle in Portugal and did further studies at ARCO in Lisbon for 12 months. She now works and lives in Almancil, Algarve. “I am still using ethnic themes and sometimes feel I am living in the wrong country so strong is the pull of Africa,”she said.At her home she has a collection of African primitive masks and carvings which are a telling reminder of her allegiance to the art and culture of the country.Her current expressionist paintings use a mixture of materials and techniques including acryclic, oils, spray and collage and Africa is never far from her artistic vision.A selection was exhibited at the Arte Algarve international art fair in June.
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