Biography

As was traditional in Portugal at that time, when Mofeliaf married the painter João José, she devotedly commited herself to her family. Nevertheless, when in Angola, she helped actively her husband in his advertising works and also on, in that time enormous scenery and “panos de boca” (15x10m) made for the “Monumental de Benguela” in Angola.

In South Africa, after 14 years in Angola, she was surrounded and taken by the Cape Town´s artistic atmosphere, she was art´s adviser and was strongly engaged in the foundation and inauguration of “Good Hope´s Workshop”, a place where creative people gather together for drawing, painting and modelling.

In 1965, she did participate in some collective exhibitions at Goulet, Atlantic and Fabian gallerys and Peter Webber´s and João José´s studios.

In 1988, after 24 years in South Africa, Mofeliaf returned to Portugal. And now, after some years, she decided her duties were accomplished and she was now free to start the passion of her life-to Paint.

Of course, Mofeliaf began with the subject she knows better-still-life´s painting.

The result took everybody by surprise, with her beautiful and unusual colours, audacity in composition and perspective and also, in spite of the paintings were almost in 3 dimensions, Mofeliaf didn´t make lines, foregrounds or backgrounds! Surprisingly, the perspectives are made by the shadows only, but than, not taking in consideration the objects configuration, the shadows are but all oval shaped! Also there are no traces of line on her drawing, it comes by naturally, helped only by the contrasting colours though, this colours are always flat, without the help of any nuances, brush stroks or textures…

So much irreverence to the painting laws, induces the art´s appreciator not to get tired to look again and again at Mofeliaf´s work, feeling may be intrigued with himself because, although he likes these work of art so much, apparently, this work “shouldn´t be allright”.

But it is in fact allright, actually really allright, as Mofeliaf´s works are truly fine pieces of art replete with beauty, modernity, strength, sensuality and a reference to our times.

In 1998 Mofeliaf created a new series of paintings entitled “Dolls” and at the inauguration in 1999, again everybody had a wonderful surprise with her ingenious new conceptions.Although her palette retain the same “african”colours and the shadows remain more or less as before, what was left is completely different.The whole”Doll”and backgrounds are strongly delineated in heavy drawing, but the eyes got only the upper eyelids, the mouth is a simple half moon and if the face has a frent view look, the nose is missing. They are quite elegants, but the drawing are not anatomical and because they are “Dolls”they don´t have ears or navel. Some are maybe deliciously provocative, malicious or daring but nothing of it has significance because…they are only “Dolls”.

The final result is a powerful work, modern, with rare pictorial beauty, curiously moody and with great colouristic and painterly splendour.

Unfortunately Mofeliaf started painting to late in life and because of that , our world is not going to get so many works of art as it should be desired.

Silver Medal by Académie Européenne des Arts, Paris, 1997.