"This pandemic has brought fear to us, but at the same time it has awakened us to the courage we have to live with this fear," said Pedro Pessoa e Costa to journalists after the inauguration of the #UsaMascara exhibition at the Portuguese Cultural Center in Luanda.
The exhibition presents 33 works on the theme of preventing and fighting the covid-19 pandemic, with emphasis on the use of the mask, and resulted from an initiative of ELA - Espaço Luanda Arte and the magazine 40.ena!, which invited Angolan artists to reflect on the theme.
The aim, the diplomat stressed, is to show other ways of seeing the mask that are not associated with lack of freedom and oppression.
"To wear the mask is to reinforce freedom in order to continue with our life", highlighted Pedro Pessoa e Costa, affirming that the visitors will leave "with a reinforced message and realizing that wearing the mask is an act of citizenship and, even, of freedom".
The ambassador added that collective behavior will make the difference in the fight against the virus.
"We have to make a difference with our behaviour if we want to beat this virus, which one day will lose, but only then will we take off the masks", he said, reiterating that this is an issue that summons the whole society and that everyone has to do their part.
Pedro Pessoa e Costa also stressed that the presence of the public is important at this time of pandemic to support artists and creative industries.
In all, 62 works were submitted by 57 artists, among which 33 works were selected, using various techniques, which will be on display until November 20th.
