My name is
Deolinda Simone Duarte da Cunha Fôlha, born on October 11, 1979, in Espinho, in
the district of Aveiro, Portugal, in a seaside town, in a humble family of
fishermen. Descendant of courageous people who lived through hardship, but with
hearts full of life. The sea still has a significant impact on my life; it was
and is part of my family's stories and my daily life.
I had a happy
childhood, and being an only child I was always surrounded by many cousins,
uncles and grandparents, in a close-knit family with many friends, where I
loved playing in the street. I already liked to draw and paint little books.
And since I was little I always knew I wanted to be an artist.
During my school years, from primary to secondary,
I was a reasonable student.
My best years at school were being part of the
1st. arts class at the City School:
· 1997-1999 – 10th to 12th grade. year of
schooling - General Course of Group 2 - Arts in School Seg. Collective class
exhibition “Art in School” in the gallery of the Espinho City Council.
Participation in the “Arts Market”, Arts Clubs of Espinho Schools.
After completion of 12th. I didn't continue
studying and to this day I am self-taught.
I went to work in an office, in the Administrative
Services of the Casino de Espinho, where I still hold that job today.
With my first
salary, I paid a deposit to buy my house so I could have my studio and become
independent and live there, where I still live today.
I participated in some competitions and
exhibitions:
· 2000-2001 – Participation in the “Arte XXI and
XXI2” Competitions - Espinho – honorable mention painting.
· 2002 – Participation in the “Arte XXI3”
Competition in Espinho. Participation of the young winners of “Arte XXI2”, in
the exhibition celebrating World Theatre and Youth Day, at the Cine-Teatro
S.Pedro in Espinho.
1st solo exhibition at the CRECOR Association in
Cortegaça. Participation in the Christmas Exhibition/Sale in Espinho.
· 2003-2005 – Participation in the “Arte XX4, 5,
6” Competitions – Espinho, in the areas of painting and photography.
· 2005 - Participation in the “Where the Eye
Catches” Competition – in Photography – Espinho. Participation in the auction
to raise funds for the 110th Anniversary Celebrations of the Espinho Volunteer
Firefighters. Participation in the VI Photography Salon of the Orfeão de Rio
Tinto Competition – honorable mentions in the black and white and color
photography sections. Participation in the “Aveiro Young Creator 2005”
Competition. Participation in the 1st Fotoerótica Visual Arts Exhibition – 3
Erotic Weeks Gondomar'2005.
· 2006 - Participation in the “Where the Eye
Catches” Competition – in Photography – Espinho.
· 2008 - “Arte XXI9” Competition – Espinho, in the
areas of painting and photography.
· 2009 - “Arte XXI10” Competition – Espinho, in
the areas of painting and photography.
Starting this year, I stopped participating in
competitions and exhibitions because I had artistic block and didn't want to
continue painting or participate. And so it was a break for several years.
· 2017 - Analog Photography Workshop. at Oliva
Creative Gactory.
· 2023 - I tried to get back into the arts and
tried again. I started experimenting with acrylic painting for the first time.
Participation in the auction to raise funds for
the institution O Grão, missions of the PALOP countries in Africa.
Participation in the Exhibition “100 Artists
Gondomar 2023” in Gondomar.
Participation for the first time in an
international exhibition, at the 5th Biennale of Contemporary Art in Salerno,
Italy.
First international trip.
· 2024- First trip to Venice. Visit to the Venice
Biennale with a group of artists.
I went alone to Sicily to go to exhibitions,
events, museums, including seeing Caravaggio in Messina, and studying light,
form, and color. Participation in the Cinema Italia 2024 Art Exhibition in
Patti, Sicily.
Participation in an Art Exhibition at the
Taimeless Gallery in Taormina, Sicily
Participation in a Collective Exhibition at the
REM Art Gallery, Opening of Exhibitions at Miguel Bombarda, Porto.
Participation in the Exhibition “100 Artists
Gondomar 2024” in Gondomar.
· 2025 – I started oil painting again, my first
love.
Going alone to Palermo, visiting museums, palaces
and historical monuments in the center. I went looking and found one of the
great masters of painting like Antonello da Messina, a genius of the Italian
Renaissance in Sicily. Going alone to Venice, visiting museums, historical
monuments and experiencing a bit of Venetian life. I met the Renaissance
masters, found my greatest inspiration and fulfilled a dream.
Participation in the BIALE 2025_Estremoz
Exhibition. 17.03 until 30.03
Participation in the "Spring" exhibition - Contemporary Art Collective - by the Fluxo Contemporary Art group - Saleno, Italy. 12.04 until 20.04
Participation in the "Summer Esporsi" exhibition - Contemporary Art Collective - by the Fluxo Contemporary Art group - Saleno, Italy. 21.06 until 28.06.
Participation in the Exhibition “100 Artists
Gondomar 2025” in Gondomar. 27.07 until 30.08.
Participation in the Vencice International Art Fair - 22nd Edtion Itsliquid Group - Venice Italy. 17.09 until 29.09.
