Francisco Santos

Francisco Lopes Santos
Personal information
Full name Francisco José Ribeiro Lopes dos Santos
Nickname(s) Xesko
Nationality  Angola
Born May 17, 1962(1962-05-17)
Luanda, Angola
Height 1.78m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 70kg
Sport
Sport Swimming
Club Clube Desportivo Nun' Alvares
Clube Náutico da Ilha de Luanda
F.C.Belenenses

Francisco José Ribeiro Lopes dos Santos, known mainly as Francisco Santos (born May 17, 1962, in Luanda, Angola) is an Angolan/Portuguese multi-talent artist with many names and faces. As Francisco Lopes Santos he is likely to be known as a swimmer. Art enthusiasts may know him as the visual artist Xesko, lovers of poetry as Elias Karipande, fantasy and science fiction fans as Alan J. Banta. As a writer, published in English and Portuguese.[1]

As a sportsman represented Angola in swimming at the 1980 Summer Olympics (Men's 100 m Breaststroke[2] and Men's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay[3]).

He also represented his country in other international games, including the Algiers 1978 All-Africa Games, the Moscow 1979 Seventh USSR Summer Spartakiade and the Mexico 1979 Summer Universiade.

Contents

Biography

Xesko's parents (who were Portuguese) had immigrated to Angola in 1959, and he grew up immersed in the African quarters (musseques) of Luanda.[4]

Since very young, he was dedicated to the Arts and Sports. He began writing at 14 years old and painting at 16 (watercolours and Chinese Ink). In that time, he had published some short stories and poems in several magazines and newspapers.[5]

In the secondary School, were a Founder and Publisher of the Magazine "The Bantalas" entirely dedicated to the Arts (Fine Art Painting, Photograph, Prose and Poetry) and participated in a contest of Art Painting whose objective was the creation of a poster commemorative of the anniversary of the MPLA obtaining the 1st place.[5]

He detached himself widely in Sports, obtaining several titles of National Champion, in Swimming (consecutively from 1972 to 1980) and Chess (1977 and 1979). He also represented is nation abroad several times, being the last time in the 1980 Summer Olympics (Moscow).[6][7][8]

He loves experiencing new techniques and ideas in Art Painting, being strongly influenced by the African art and by the work of Salvador Dali. His interest by the painting avenged until 1986, time in that personal problems caused to stop having started again painting in the year of 2002.[5]

Noticeable Militant of the Youth of the Party (JMPLA) abandoned the politics when he moved to Portugal in 1986.[5] In Portugal, began a career as a musician under the name of Francis Riba, having created several musical groups, being the better known, the psychedelic rock band ZEM.[9]

From 1982 to 1999 he was involved in several musical and theatrical projects as a technician, musician, producer and director, writing several adaptations and two original pieces.[5]

Graduated in the Soviet Union, in 1986, in Chemical Engineering, where he frequented also the courses of "Scientific Drawing" and "Creative Thought in Post-modernism". In Portugal, graduated in Data Processing, Systems Engineering and Programming. He frequented also the Courses of “Improvement in Painting Techniques for Oil Portraits”, promoted by the Fine Art-Painter Master Almaia, “Photograph and Graphic Design”, from IADE (Institute of Visual Arts, Design and Marketing), “Aesthetics and Theories of the Contemporary Art" and "Art Painting and Visual intervention”, from SNBA (National Society of Fine arts).[5]

He has a MA of Contemporary Fine Arts from the Sheffield Institute of Arts (Sheffield Hallam University), Sheffield, UK, and has several works displayed in public places and he is represented in several private and official collections in Portugal, Russia, France, Spain, Brazil, UK and Angola.

Heteronyms

Xesko
Born May 17, 1962(1962-05-17)
Luanda, Angola
Occupation Visual Artist, Writer, Musician, Sportsman
Genres Novel, Short story, Poetry
Xesko

Francisco Santos's primary nom d'art or alter ego.

Alan J. Banta

The heteronym Alan J. Banta is described as a civil engineer, born in 1952 in Kakamas, a village located in the Northern Cape, South Africa but living and working in Angola. After independence, in 1975, remained in the country, for he considers his true home. This heteronym, emerges as a prolific writer of fantasy and science fiction, because of their South African origins and English education, is tending to express in a very classical way. According Francisco Santos, Alan J. Banta, appears for the necessity of the author has in distancing his student's life from his fantasies.

Elias Karipande

By other side, the heteronym Elias Karipande, was born in 1958 in Karipande, a village of Alto Zambeze in Moxico, Angola. Countryman, having only attended primary school, enroll the FAPLA in 1977 after the killing of their parents by UNITA. Born poet, his poetry reflects the heroic spirit of the time. According Francisco Santos, this heteronym, appears for the necessity of creating a soul of pure nationalism.

Works

Alan J. Banta

(Novel, Short story)

  • 1976 – Exodus. ISBN 989-8085-10-X
  • 1977 – Crossed fire I (A Travel to the Past) - Fogo Cruzado I (Uma Viagem ao Passado). ISBN 989-8085-11-8
  • 1978 – Crossed fire II (Perhaps the Future) - Fogo Cruzado II (Talvez o Futuro). ISBN 989-8085-12-6
  • 1979 – Crossed fire III (What Reality) - Fogo Cruzado III (Que Realidade). ISBN 989-8085-13-4
  • 1981 – Zantar. ISBN 989-8085-14-2
  • 1993 – Terrae Incognitae. ISBN 989-8085-15-0
  • 1994 – Dreams (Short story) - Sonhos (Contos). ISBN 989-8085-16-9
  • 1995 – Thoughts of Chom - Pensamentos de Chom. ISBN 989-8085-17-7

Elias Karipande

(Poetry)

  • 1982 – The Rainbow Warriors - Os Guerreiros do Arco-íris. ISBN 989-8085-00-2
  • 1984 – From Kabinda to the Kunene - De Kabinda ao Kunene. ISBN 989-8085-01-0
  • 1986 – 24 Hours in the Life (Finally the Peace) - 24 Horas na Vida (Finalmente a Paz). ISBN 989-8085-02-9
  • 1988 – Green - Verde. ISBN 989-8085-04-5

Xesko

(Poetry)

  • 1986 – Putting the Points in the iis - Pontos nos iis. ISBN 989-8085-03-7
  • 1989 – A Step in thin Ice - 1 Passo em Falso. ISBN 989-8085-05-3
  • 1993 – Between God and the Devil - Entre Deus e o Diabo. ISBN 989-8085-06-1
  • 1996 – Muses (A Lost Secret) - Musas (Um Segredo Perdido). ISBN 989-8085-07-X
  • 2002 – Ambiguities - Ambiguidades. ISBN 989-8085-08-8
  • 2006 – The Electric Zone of the Colors - A Zona Electrica das Cores. ISBN 989-8085-09-6

(Novel, Short story)

  • 1998 – Cel, Angel or Demon - Cel, Anjo ou Demónio, ISBN 989-8085-18-5

Selected exhibitions

Solo

  • 1981 - "Freedom" Scientific Institute of Minsk (Minsk/Bielorussia - Ex. Soviet Union)
  • 1982 - "Butterfly Effect" Humbi-Humbi, Art Gallery (Luanda/Angola)
  • 2004 - "7 Shades of Gray" Café da Ponte, Docas de Alcântara (Lisbon/Portugal)
  • 2008 - "E Pluribus Unum" First Gallery, (Lisbon/Portugal)
  • 2009 - "Devaneios/Reveries" Gallery Vasco da Gama, (Loures/Portugal)
  • 2010 - "Devaneios II/Reveries II" Gallery Fernado Pessoa, (Lisbon/Portugal)[10]
  • 2011 - "Transições/Transitions" Gallery Fernado Pessoa, (Lisbon/Portugal)[11]

Collective

  • 1978 - "Um Quadro para a Revolução" (A painting for the Revolution) Noble Room of the National Assembly (Luanda/Angola)
  • 2005 - Military Hospital of Belém (Lisbon/Portugal)
  • 2006 - "Coisas de Campolide" (Things about Campolide) (Lisbon/Portugal)
  • 2007 - "1st National Exhibition of Fine Arts" (Lisbon/Portugal).[12]
  • 2007 - "Lembrar Abril" (Remember April - commemorations of 25th of April and the International Workers' Day) (Alcochete/Portugal)
  • 2007 - "Viver Campolide" (To live Campolide) (Lisbon/Portugal)
  • 2007/2008 - Arte Fora da Galeria (Art Outside the Gallery) (Alcochete/Portugal)
  • 2008 - "Os 5 Mágnificos" (The Magnificent 5) Tic Tac Café (Alcochete/Portugal)
  • 2009 - Puro Arte, (Vigo/Spain)[13]
  • 2009 - Artexpo NY, (New York/U.S.A)[14]
  • 2009 - Art Meeting in London III, Gallery 118, (London/UK)[15]
  • 2009 - Poésie Visuelle dans Paris II (Visual Poetry in Paris II), Galerie Artitude, (Paris/France)[16]
  • 2009 - Galeria Aberta XVI (Open Gallery XVI), Museum "Jorge Vieira", (Beja/Portugal)
  • 2009 - Around the Bull - Gallery Vieira Portuense (Porto/Portugal)[17]
  • 2010 - Transmission: Off Air, SIAD Gallery, (Sheffield/UK)
  • 2011 - Global Echo: Artists in Print, Furnival Gallery, (Sheffield/UK)
  • 2011 - Creative Sparks 2011, Furnival Gallery, (Sheffield/UK)

See also

References

  1. ^ (German) Ein wahres Bild von Angola?
  2. ^ Men's 100 m Breaststroke, XXII Summer Olympics, Results
  3. ^ Men's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay, XXII Summer Olympics, Results
  4. ^ CARMO, Fernando Infante do, (2003). Anuário Internacional de Arte 2003, Lisboa: F.I. Carmo.
  5. ^ a b c d e f African Success, Online Magazine
  6. ^ DIÁRIO DE LUANDA, Luanda, Angola, (1968 to 1974), Newspaper
  7. ^ PROVÍNCIA DE ANGOLA/JORNAL DE ANGOLA, Luanda, Angola, (1968 to 1981), Newspaper
  8. ^ RECORD, Lisboa, Portugal, (1982 to 1990), Newspaper
  9. ^ Discossete, (1992). Relação de Grupos dos Anos 80, Lisboa: Discossete
  10. ^ "Reveries II - Gallery Fernado Pessoa, Lisbon, Portugal" (in Portuguese). Galeria Aberta. http://galeriaaberta.blogspot.com/2010/09/exposicao-de-xesko.html. Retrieved 2-8-2011. 
  11. ^ "Transições - Gallery Fernado Pessoa, Lisbon, Portugal" (in Portuguese). Caras Magazine. http://aeiou.caras.pt/exposicao-de-pintura-transicoes=f38289. Retrieved 2-8-2011. 
  12. ^ "Works selected for the 1st National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Lisbon, Portugal" (in Portuguese). Waylight. http://www.waylight.pt/salao_pt_preseleccao.html. Retrieved July 5, 2010. 
  13. ^ "Puro Arte, Photo Gallery". http://xesko.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=5305612. Retrieved July 5, 2010. 
  14. ^ "Artexpo NY, Photo Gallery". http://xesko.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=5305565. Retrieved July 5, 2010. 
  15. ^ "Art Meeting in London III". Gallery 118. http://gallery118.blogspot.com/2009/04/art-meeting-in-london-iii.html. Retrieved July 5, 2010. 
  16. ^ "Poésie Visuelle dans Paris II" (in French). Galerie Artitude. http://www.artitudeparis.com/index.php?location=show_works&show=1475. Retrieved July 5, 2010. 
  17. ^ Around the Bull, Gallery Vieira Portuense
  18. ^ "Alcarte" (in Portuguese). Câmara Municipal de Acochete. http://www.cm-alcochete.pt/pt/conteudos/noticias+e+eventos/noticias/Alcarte_7ago09.htm. Retrieved July 5, 2010. 
Additional references

External links