L’ARTISTE
Munana Gatera is first and foremost a curious being, insatiable for experiences. A self-taught artist, blessed by the Muses, Munana’s creativity knows no bounds.
Born in Burundi, raised between Rwanda, Congo and Belgium, working between Lisbon and Brussels, Munana Gatera is a self-taught artist who likes to play with different crafts and techniques. A serial creator at heart, he does not like to label himself a designer or a painter but rather considers himself a creator of emotions who takes on any creative endeavour his soul calls for.
At twenty-five years old, Munana interrupts his career as a model and stylist to teach himself how to paint. These first creation, both abstract and figurative, will inspire his first textile and design works. He will collaborate with Didden & Co for an art rug collection, for Mais il est où le soleil? on a scarf collection. He will then move on to create his eponymous brand and sign a collection of scarves, a collection of hand-made kimonos, and other experiments remained unreleased.
He has collaborated with name brands and independent designers before creating his own namesake brand in 2014.
SUBVERTING THE FRAME
In his work Munana tries to mend the past and the present, he removes the canvas from the frame and weaves it like a primitive totem. He wants to elongate his line and stretch it out into eternity, into the infinity of the cosmos. His experiments with paper are in direct continuity with this search. He sculpts paper without ever framing it, just paper in its noble simplicity. These new pieces, often taking up entire walls, are as much decorative piece as they are portals to another world.
COSMIC CHILD
Munana always refuses to define himself and his work, preferring the flow of creativity unobstructed. He is like the water of the river in which you never bathe twice. Our artist is a cosmic child who plays with colors and materials dictated by his instinct, commanded by his visions. Like the river, Munana goes where the wind and the terrain take him.
SUMMARY OF EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS
2002-2008 Toast Gallery, Paris (Exhibition)
2005 Microsoft, Paris, France (Exhibition)
2005 Fresque murale, The Flat, Brussels (Private Collection)
2006 Toast Gallery, Brussels (Exhibition)
2008 Place de Londres, Brussels (Exhibition)
2009 Salicorne, La Hulpe (Exhibition)
2009 Frames of Wool, Brussels (Collection & Exhibition)
2010 Munana Gatera with Verne Photography, Gent (Exhibition)
2010 Walk on Art – Munana Gatera by Didden&C° (Collection & Exhibition)
2010 Bijou Pan ! – Munana Gatera by Bijoux de Marie-France (Collection & Exhibition)
2011 Etoles by Munana Gatera, Etoles by S+ (Collection)
2011 Malaika – The Lab, Brussels (Exhibition)
2011 Fresques murales, Private Collection, Bruxelles
2012-2013 Brussels (Exhibition)
2012 Dolls for Charity, Brussels (Charity Project)
2013 Vases by Munana Gatera, Brussels (Collection)
2013 Les Sources, Brussels (Exhibition)
2014-2018 Atelier d’Art et Couture Munana Gatera (Projets et Collections)
2014 Etoles Creations#1 Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2014 Boudha by Munana Gatera, Collection Cyrique, Brussels (Collection)
2015 Etoles Creations#2 Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2015 Collective Art Exhibition – B Art Brussels , Brussels (Exhibition)
2016 Etoles Creations#3 Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2016 Projet KIDNOIZE, Brussels (Exhibition)
2017 Brussels (Charity Project)
2017 New Boudha by Munana Gatera, Collection Cyrique, Brussels (Collection)
2018 Etoles Creations#4 Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2019 Kimono Creations#5 Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2019 Umana, Singapore (Charity Project)
2019 Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Singapore (Exhibition)
2020 Couture – Creations#9 Bolero Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2020 Paperwork Creations#10 Atelier Munana Gatera (Collection)
2021 Couture – Creation#11 Kimono (Collection)
2021 Art – Création#12 Rugs (Collection)
2021 Couture – Creation#14 Scarves (Collection)
2020-Present Paperwork Creations#13