"The idea of painting the tangues came after the artist saw the tanks, dirty, ugly, damaged, forming part of the landscape. He imagined that they could be an attractive claim, a point of tourist interest, the country of the painted tanks," reads a statement sent to VerAngola.
According to the note, the project consists in painting the abandoned tanks and armored cars, which are scattered throughout the country. For now the project is being developed in Bailundo, an area where the war has hit hard.
"The intention is to bring together the efforts of emerging Angolan artists and artists already consolidated, and the efforts that the artist considers most important, those of Angolan children painting an armored car, giving life to this new stage of Angola," says the statement.
In addition, it is also intended to make known to the world that the stage of war and pain in Angola has been overcome and that the country is changing.
"In my trips around the country I always found the same image, armored cars along the road, as if it were something normal, when it is something totally abnormal, that in few places in the world happens. Being a bleak sight, let's at least make it beautiful and attractive," said the Spanish artist.
"In my country, people still talk about the civil war that ended in the year 1936. There are still old resentments between the two gangs formerly faced. We want to learn from our mistakes, and see to it that they are not repeated here. Those who have talent can express themselves, giving value to the country with their contributions," he indicated.
The project is in its embryonic stage, and so far two war tanks have already been painted.
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