Francisco Santos

Francisco José Ribeiro Lopes dos Santos, known mainly as Francisco Santos (born 17 May 1962 in Luanda, Angola) is an Angolan/Portuguese multi-talented artist. He is known by many names in various industries. As a swimmer, he uses the name, Francisco Lopes Santos. In visual arts, he is known as Xesko. In poetry, he used the name Elias Karipande. In fantasy and science fiction, Francisco used the name Alan J. Banta, whose works were published in English and Portuguese.

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

He 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.

He was honored by the Angolan Olympic Committee in 2014 for being one of the first Angolan Olympic ambassadors.

Biography Francisco's parents were Portuguese, and immigrated to Angola in 1959, where he grew up immersed in the African quarters (musseques) of Luanda.

Since a young age, he was dedicated to the arts and sports. He began writing at 14 and painting at 16 years old (watercolours and Chinese Ink). In that time, he published some short stories and poems in several magazines and newspapers.

In secondary school, he was the founder and publisher of the magazine "The Bantalas" entirely dedicated to the arts (Fine Art Painting, Photograph, Prose and Poetry). He participated in a contest of Art Painting whose objective was the creation of a poster commemorative of the anniversary of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) obtaining the 1st place.

Francisco abandoned politics when he moved to Portugal in 1986.

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. 2011 - "Transições/Transitions" Gallery Fernado Pessoa, (Lisbon/Portugal)

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). 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) 2009 - Artexpo NY, (New York/U.S.) 2009 - Art Meeting in London III, Gallery 118, (London/UK) 2009 - Poésie Visuelle dans Paris II (Visual Poetry in Paris II), Galerie Artitude, (Paris/France) 2009 - Galeria Aberta XVI (Open Gallery XVI), Museum "Jorge Vieira", (Beja/Portugal) 2009 - Around the Bull - Gallery Vieira Portuense (Porto/Portugal) 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)

2007/8/9/11 - Alcarte (Alcochete/Portugal)