For my Ancestors

Mafalda Vasconcelos was born in South Africa but grew up in Mozambique. Mafalda's work is inspired by the symbolism and spiritualism of her Mozambican culture. Her process is about spiritual self-discovery, identity, cultural exploration but also about love and admiration for ancestry and womanhood. Her art is not just a spiritual quest but also a way of exploring emotions and how they relate to identity.

“My mother and her family are from the Nharinga ethnic group from the north of Mozambique. This was a very small ethnic group and due to assimilation, most of their culture was lost and not documented. My own family has no relation to this culture apart from a few beliefs and spiritual practices that they still use. By creating visual stories through portraits, I try to fill in the gaps of who my ancestors were and what they believed in and inform my identity based on this narrative."

She studied Fashion and Design at the University of Westminster and gained an MA in Fashion Entrepreneurship. After years of working in fashion, she decided to pursue her artistic career and passion. She has had several solo shows in Australia where she currently lives, and has collaborated with brands such as Sony, ASAP Mob (A$AP Rocky's Recording Label) and Song of Style (Aimee Song).