The solo exhibition ‘Versos d’Alma’ by Mozambican visual artist Miqueias Rocha, known in artistic circles as Das Rochas, is open to the public at the BCI Mediateca in Maputo from Tuesday, 20 October to 5 November.

The opening ceremony took place on Tuesday, 20 October, and was attended by artists, representatives of the cultural sector, and invited guests. The event was marked by addresses that highlighted the aesthetic and symbolic dimensions of the exhibition, as well as the creative journey of its author.

According to a statement from the institution, the exhibition brings together watercolour works on paper that convey the author’s memories, emotions, and formative experiences, inviting the public to reflect on everyday life, identity, and Mozambican cultural references.

At the opening, BCI Mediatecas coordinator Telma Jorge underscored the importance of the initiative as a space for recognising national artistic expression, noting that the works invite the public to engage in an exercise of memory and observation of Mozambican reality. She also emphasised ‘the Bank’s commitment to promoting culture, particularly in the year it celebrates three decades of existence’.

Curator Titos Pelembe highlighted the thematic and expressive richness of the exhibition, identifying three fundamental dimensions in the artistic works on display: childhood memories, the dynamics of urban life, and the exploration of symbols rooted in African culture, rendered in a language that is simultaneously contemporary and anchored in cultural identity. He also drew attention to the diversity of approaches and the significance of the artist’s return to public presentation of his work.

‘The curator described the exhibition as a moment of artistic rebirth, following a long period away from painting. He revealed that the birth of his daughters was one of the main impulses that led him to pick up his brushes again and rediscover a passion that has accompanied him since his formative years. For the artist, each work represents a part of his own story, translating feelings and experiences that he now shares with the public,’ the statement reads.

The exhibition also marks a milestone in Miqueias Rocha’s career: although he has previously participated in several group shows, this is his first solo exhibition.

By hosting ‘Versos d’Alma’, BCI reaffirms its role as a partner to culture and national creators, providing spaces for dialogue between artists and the public and contributing to the promotion of Mozambican talent, as part of a sustained commitment to the valorisation of the country’s identity and cultural heritage.