Roberto Mamani Mamani
Bolivian painter (born 1962)
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Roberto Aguilar Quisbert (born 6 December 1962), better known as Roberto Mamani Mamani, is a Bolivian artist. Roberto Mamani Mamani is a self-taught, first-generation indigenous artist from Bolivia, who also goes by the name Roberto Aguilar Quisbert. The media Mamani Mamani works with are drawing and painting. Robert's art is driven by the inspiration of his culture and traditions, resulting in his work to become very colorful in order to mimic traditional colorful clothing that is worn in his culture.
6 December 1962
Mamani Mamani | |
|---|---|
Roberto Mamani Mamani in one of his galleries in La Paz, Bolivia. | |
| Born | Roberto Aguilar Quisbert 6 December 1962 |
| Known for | Painting, Drawing, Photography, Sculpture |
He is part of two Southern American Indigenous groups, the Quechua and the Aymara. It was forbidden for Roberto's parents to marry due to the tribe they belonged to, therefore they ran away from Tiahuanacu to Cochapampa-land where Robert and his sister grow up. Due to relocation and different customs it was hard for Robert not to notice that they were different to the community they lived in. Owing to the different tribal backgrounds his work is significant in its use of Aymara indigenous tradition and symbols.
Education
Roberto was the first in his family to graduate from high school. Later, he continued his education at Universidad Mayor de San Andrés de La Paz, studying law. However, his love for art and desire for self-discovery pushed him to become a painter. With his career in art on the rise, Roberto took inspiration from traditional indigenous clothing his mother would wear.[1]
Mamani Mamani began to create art, without "proper/ formal training". Roberto experimented with paintings with ashes, clay, stones and other inexpensive materials from his surroundings. Roberto art takes more inspiration from Aymara tribe. Also known as Andean. Heavily influenced by Aymara beliefs and culture, along with his own world views and experiences, Roberto created his own genre of art, naming it "Andean Universe".
His art work mostly consisted of painting, Mamani Mamani's paintings draw upon his Aymara heritage, and include colorfully stylized images of indigenous mothers, condors, suns, and moons, among other themes. Mamani Mamani uses strong vibrant colors similar to the colors featured in the traditional handmade weavings that are widely used by the indigenous people of the Bolivian Altiplano. His use of indigenous symbols is especially significant in the South American context where indigenous cultures have been viewed as inferior to European culture.
Artwork
Murals
In 2016, he made murals at the walls of the Wiphala social housing complex, located in El Alto.[2]
This is a mural project that consists of seven blocks and twelve-stories high making it the second largest mural in this country. This project is also important because it is the first time in history that the state government has become involved with their people's living conditions. These apartments were created to help people's living conditions in this city. These apartments are exclusively for low income families, freshly married couples, and students. These renovated apartments are sold at half market-price value when compared to nearby housing. This project took approximately five months to complete.
Fashion trade
Mamani Mamani has also partnered up with the Embassy of the PlurinationalState of Bolivia to make more substantial trade. Involving the global fashion exchange and Vogue magazine in April 2019. This resulted in recruitment of Bolivia designers to collaborate with the fashion industry to promote this fair trade.
Art programs
Georgina Javor partnered with Roberto and others. To create art programs through D.C., this program include workshops for young children to creating works inspired by Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru art. The goal of this program was to teach young artists and musicians about the Aymara, Quechuan, and other indigenous culture. The craftsmanship shown to these children holds a lot of symbolism, color and tradition from these communities. This project has resulted in leading to 60 exhibitions throughout the state.
Thought this program twenty-five of Roberto's works have been curated and Mamani is seen as a cultural value to this community. Since this project Roberto has also showcased in exhibitions with lesser-known artists.
Roberto has also collaborated with University of Philadelphia in 2021. Under the Latin American Center and Latin studies, he creating a mural featuring indigenous people, animals and landscape of the area. The university collaborated with nearby programs, resulting in Roberto attending a few events based around the artists.
Exhibitions, residencies, artist talks and events
His art has been exhibited around the world, including shows in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Munich, China, Singapore, and London.[3]
Mural Arts Philadelphia Welcome Event, September 1, 2023, Mural Arts Philadelphia
Community Paint Day, September 2, 2023, Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency
Artist Talk, September 8, 2021, Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies
Mural Dedication, September 28, 2012, Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency
Let's Make Art Like Roberto Mamani Mamani, September 27, 2023, Santa Clara City Library
Artist Talk, September 29, 2023, Bryn Mawr college
Arts Enrichment-Arte Y Cultura: Contemporary explorations, January 22, 2021 – May 21, 2021, Kala Art Institute
Mother Earth "Pachamama" Colors and the Andean Cosmovision' October 25 – November 9, 2017, Korea Foundation Gallery
Permanent collection, Cornell Art Museum
References
Mamani Mamani Gallery | La Paz, Bolivia | Attractions - Lonely Planet. (n.d.). Lonely Planet.[4]
A New Mural by Bolivian Artist Roberto Mamani Mamani Brings the Vibrant and Powerful Energy of the Andes to Philadelphia | Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies.[5] Roberto Mamani Mamani[1]
Roberto Mamani Mamani – South American Street Art Fund. (n.d.).[6]
"Presidente Morales Inaugura Condominio 'Wiphala' En El Alto, La Obra De Vivienda Social Más Grande Del País." Viceministerio De Comunicación - Bolivia[7]
Rule, Doug. "Bright Bolivian Art." Metro Weekly, 12 Feb. 2014,[8]
La Paz, U. S. Embassy. "Sustainable Fashion and Fair Trade - U.S. Embassy in Bolivia." U.S. Embassy in Bolivia, 18 Oct. 2021, bo.usembassy.gov/sustainable-fashion-and-fair-trade.
Eric Mohl, CPO (Chief Photography Officer). "Roberto Mamani Mamani Murals in El Alto, Bolivia." Trans, 1 Apr. 2021, trans-americas.com/mamani-mamani-murals-bolivia/.
Johnson, Jenny Donnelly. "Bolivia's Roberto Mamani Mamani in Residence." Mural Arts Philadelphia, 1 Sept. 2023,[9]
Santa Clara Public Library | Home Library, www.sclibrary.org/.
Department of Spanish Presents A Conversation with Roberto Mamani Mamani. (n.d.). Bryn Mawr College.[10]
Arts Enrichment- Arte y Cultura: Contemporary Explorations (Grades K-5) - Kala Art Institute. (2021, September 5). Kala Art Institute.[11]
한국국제교류재단 KF. (n.d.).[12]
Paper, P. B. A. (2017, October 14). Delray's Cornell Museum gets ready for its new look, reopening.[13]