Description of the attraction
The Maputo National Museum of Art, also known as MUSART, is located on Ho Chi Minh Avenue in a three-story modern building painted in white. This museum contains an excellent collection of paintings and sculptures by the best contemporary artists of Mozambique. Right at the entrance, behind the glass door, visitors are greeted by a sandalwood statue of Samussone Makamo called "United People". The composition "Union of Forces" by the same sculptor is installed in the same room. It symbolizes the national unity of the people of Mozambique.
The idea of creating a National Museum of Art in Maputo came about after the country's independence. Artists from Mozambique donated their work to the museum. No special building was built for the new museum. All works of art were housed in the mansion of the Indo-Portuguese Institute.
At first, the criteria for admitting paintings to the museum were strange. The management of the museum wanted to see on the canvases what is associated with beauty and aesthetics. Many local artists, not seeing their works in the exhibition halls, were offended and sorted out relations with the museum staff. Therefore, the admission rules were soon changed. The museum accepted works by artists permanently residing in Mozambique. Thus, the authorities wanted to emphasize that the young, newly formed country has its own national talents.
The National Art Museum was opened on May 18, 1989. The museum has three exhibition halls: one for temporary exhibitions, two others for permanent exhibitions. Sometimes museum workers remove permanent exhibitions to make room for temporary ones.
The museum collection contains paintings by Makukule, Ndlosi, Samate, Shikani, Malangatana, etc.
