In addition to the painting, which embellishes the sealing wall that surrounds the airport, the minister also inaugurated a graphic exhibition dedicated to "Ancestry and Technology" and launched a social project called "Geração de Sonhos".
All projects are an initiative of Sociedade Gestora de Aeroportos (SGA), having been presented as part of the company's third anniversary, which was celebrated on 1 July.
Thó Simões, recognized national artist, is the author of the project "Mural Cultural", which surrounds the airport. The mural aims to promote Angola, its history, ecosystem, music, culture and attractions in an appealing way, says Angop.
In an initial phase, the painter and graffiti artist divided the mural into three themes, depicting the hairstyles of the Herero peoples of the south of the country; the fauna and flora (with illustrations of the Giant Sable Antelope) and the Welwitschia Mirabilis plant; and the sculpture of the Lunda-Tchokwe region, represented by masks.
This mural was strategically chosen for the painting of the images as it is one of the first contacts of airport passengers with Angola, allowing, right after landing, an impression of the country's culture.
SGA now plans to extend the project to all national airports under its management.
Ricardo D'Abreu congratulated the initiative, stating that these projects are important in the dissemination of Angolan culture and its identity. "I think that SGA has a unique opportunity to combine both its competence in terms of the services it provides, but also to promote the idea that Angola is a great cultural power and with great diversity in this field, which can help in the various dimensions of the economy, society and obviously culture", said the holder of the Transport portfolio, quoted by Angop.
Thó Simões considered the opportunity to participate in this project as an honor. "We started at first in an experimental way and ended up with the mural we witness today, with different themes", said the artist.
"The idea was, right from the start, to praise Angola and we arrived at this concept of representing art and culture, fauna and flora, fashion and beauty of the country by themes. Many of us feel the need to bring up the memory of who we are so we don't get lost in this globalized world", he explained to Angop, stating that other aspects of Angolan culture will still be represented along the airport fence.
