Luanda’s emotional geography

Luanda appears as a key case to investigate the role of art in the public realm to overcome societal traumas, concerning collective memory and identity, and to address social justice matters. Looking at the often tense relationship between the city's recent developments and its urban art scene, the chapter reflects on the impact of permanent artworks, cultural events, and ephemeral artworks in societal terms. Thanks to the fresh international visibility of Angolan artists and the complexity of the Triennial of Luanda, the capital emerges as a laboratory where the resignification of urban spaces, the work on their history, personal and collective memories, cast a light on the importance of ephemeral interventions. In that context, Luanda's emotional geography is brought to the forefront as powerful leverage for societal healing, identity strengthening, and city reshaping.