Gallery 2 - Mario Soares - Voyage

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Mario Pedro Soares

Mario Soares is a Mozambican artist based in Johannesburg South Africa. He moved from Mozambique to South Africa in 2008. Soares initially worked as an artist/embroiderer for Boitumelo in Hillbrow, however in 2010 he began his studies at Artist Proof Studio. Soares graduated in 2013 and proceeded to develop his skill in etching. Soares’ medium is printmaking, and he works primarily in etching on steel plates. In his body of work he divulges into the metaphor of the road to explore concepts concerning the processes of growing up, travel and migration. As an immigrant himself, Soares chooses to use faceless and generalised ‘identity-less’ subjects as he feels it gives a voice to the ways in which immigrants seek to make themselves invisible in their new home country, fearful of entrenched xenophobia. In 2014, he became an intern at APS at the Pro-Shop. Soares now works as an independent artist full time fro his studio on Johannesburg.

He has been part of numerous group shows and art fairs both in Johannesburg and in Cape Town.

Artist Statement Since I was a child in Mozambique I knew that I wanted to be an artist. Growing up, I have experienced art through joining other groups of artists. My work at that time wasn’t of a good standard. When I moved to South Africa almost 10 years ago now, my work has developed and gone through many changes and transitions. My work is largely about the life and perspective of people in Mozambique and South Africa.

Since graduating from Artist Proof Studio, I have produced numerous etchings on steel plates and each time I explore new aspects of intaglio techniques. This is a constant and intense process of discovery and experimentation. In my work I have begun to challenge the scale and depth in the images through printing on a large scale and joining plates to make up landscapes and cityscapes that engulf the viewer. In these works perspective and depth are explored and emphasized.

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Josina Machel Neighborhood (Chimoio, Mozambique), Etching, 189 x 130cm, Ed of 10, 2020

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Voyage, Etching, 136 x 177cm, Ed of 10, 2020

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Voyage Vol II, Etching, 136 x 93cm, Edition of 10, 2020

Voyage Vol III, Etching, 136 x 93cm, Edition of 10, 2020

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South African, Etching, 70 x 100cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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South African Vol. II, Etching, 70 x 100cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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South African Vol. III, Etching, 70 x 87cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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South African Vol. IV, Etching, 70 x 87cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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Voyager 1, Etching, 51 x 56cm, Edition of 30, 2020

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Voyager 2, Etching, 51 x 56cm, Edition of 30, 2020

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Voyager 3, Etching, 51 x 56cm, Edition of 30, 2020

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Johannesburg before Covid-19 Vol II, etching, 70 x 100cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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Johannesburg before Covid-19 Vol III, etching, 70 x 87cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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Johannesburg before Covid-19 Vol IV, 70 x 87cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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Johannesburg before Covid-19, etching, 70 x 100cm, Edition of 20, 2020

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Back Home, Etching, 49,5 x 58cm, Edition of 20, 2019

Hero’s Square, Etching, 49,5 x 58cm, Edition of 30, 2019

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Mother’s love, Etching, Edition of 20, 49,5 x 58cm, 2020

Never look back, Etching, Edition of 20, 49,5 x 58cm, 2020

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Africans II, Etching, 30 x 35cm, Edition of 20, 2019

Africans, Etching, 30 x 35cm, Edition of 20, 2019

Africans III, Etching, 30 x 35cm, Ed of 20, 2019

Africans IIII, Etching, 30 x 35cm, Ed of 20, 2019

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Josina Machel Neighborhood (Chimoio, Mozambique) Vol. II, Etching, 168 x 69cm, (193 x 80cm with borders) Ed of 10, 2020

Josina Machel Neighborhood (Chimoio, Mozambique) Vol. III, Etching, 168 x 69cm, (193 x 80cm with borders) Ed of 10, 2020

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Black Hallo Vol II, Etching, 95 x 66,5cm, Edition of 20, 2018

Mother, Etching, 97 x 40cm, Edition of 30, 2018

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Super Nova, Etching, 97 x 40cm, Edition of 30, 2018

Family, Etching, 97 x 40cm, Edition of 30, 2018

Super Nova, Etching, 97 x 40cm, Edition of 30, 2018

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Milk way Galaxy Vol II, Etching, 95 x 66,5cm, Edition of 20, 2018

Supernova Vol II, Etching, 95 x 66,5cm, Edition of 20, 2018.

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info@gallery2.co.za | 142 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood | www.gallery2.co.za | +27 (0)83 457 4851