Susana López used to paint the wooden belly sculptures (body masks) which are made by the Makonde people who live in the border area of Tanzania and Mozambique in small separate communities. The Makonde people believe in (female) ancestor worship and spirits, which frequently occur in several ceremonies and rituals. One of the most important ritual is the initiation ceremonie. This special body mask is called "Amwalindembo". The body mask carved from wood has been made to the portrait of a young pregnant woman, decorated with typical Makonde tattoos. The body masks are worn by the male dancers. He performs with its dancing the agonies of childbirth, so that he can imagine himself in the feeling of the woman!
Susana López, stewardess and artist with an enormous craze for Africa, encountered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on one of her travels these body masks. "I was immediately swept off my feet by its shape and the fact that each belly was different! I imported the bellies and painted them in the Netherlands. I called them Happy Bellies!" Her extensive travel and contact with all kinds of cultures and people gave her the necessary inspiration. She obtained her inspiration from everywhere, from the things which she encountered, from the street and from her daughter!

"Happy Belly" is a way to brighten up the world with coloured pregnant sculptures, which gets a complete other dimension through the painting, sometimes tough, sweet or simply crazy! Exactly those poll differences which a pregnant woman has herself. Pregnancy is a phase in a woman's life where there are so many changes, which is on itself already art!