Graphic Designer, Artist, Brussels, Belgium

Ms Helena Nunes is a creative chameleon. She transforms through her passions and interests, and you’re lucky to just get along for a ride. I loved the feelings of welcome, warmth and openness that emanated during our afternoon together. I continue to be impressed with Helena’s moxie and resourcefulness to leave her home country and move to Belgium , seemingly on a whim, but in reality part of her bigger journey of self-discovery and growth. Immigrating into a new culture, new language is an expensive endeavor not just for the wallet but for the soul. It can be gut wrenching and destabilizing. “I have endured, I have been broken, I have known hardship, I have lost myself. But here I stand, still moving forward, growing stronger each day”.

1. Name

Helena Nunes.

2. Where is your hometown?

Porto, Portugal.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation?

I’m a graphic designer that fell in love with video art.

4. What did you study in school?

I always studied the arts, I have a degree in graphic design and a Masters in Media and Information Design. I am hopeful that these will assist me in pursuing what I really am passionate about - video and motion design.

5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? What are some accomplishments you’re most proud of, and what was the turning point to set you on a current path in life?

I had a really normal life in Portugal. I graduated at 22, worked as a graphic designer and was in a long-term relationship. Even though I had nothing to complain about I always felt this empty feeling, wanting more out of life, especially discovering other countries and travelling. Almost three years ago I broke up with my boyfriend and reached a turning point. What at the time was a sad event turned out to be the most important thing in my life. I decided to do things for myself and travel. During one of exploration trips in Belgium I decided to move to Brussels and apply for a masters there. I didn’t do much research at all, and just applied to Luca School of Arts because I liked the program. I was accepted.

Now I´m living here, in Brussels, following my passion and learning more than ever. Despite being away from and missing my family, friends and pets, as well as having more financial headaches, I have never been more happy.

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

Very different. When I was 20 I was a romantic girl that just wanted a job in publishing world, and have a romantic love for life. I achieved that “dream” at the time but knew deep down that it was not enough. I needed to keep learning, moving forward and exploring. That’s what drives me!

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

The support of my friends and family was definitely the most important thing to make my problems feel small. Also solving things one by one without overthinking too much about what can go wrong. Doing what made me happy in the moment. I think sometimes we need to be selfish in life.

8. Advice for other women?

Do it! Don’t think about it.

9. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?

We must be all we can be on the world today. Women already accomplished many important milestones in short time, such secured the right to vote and a right to an education. We must use this momentum to fight for gender equality. There is still a long road to go but when I see young women championing women rights I’m encouraged. Here in Belgium we have “Laises les filles tranquile” that report sexual abuse using street art as a vehicle and “Le gang de clito” that talks openly about feminine pleasure. In Porto, Portugal, the sweet Clara Não makes feminist art that calls attention to all many issues plaguing women. All this effort gives me hope that we are on the way to a more equal and fair world for women. We must keep on joining forces, together (like ME TOO movement), expose more inequalities, stand up to any kind of abuse and refuse to settle for less just because of our gender. Talking about it for me is the key to change.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

In the garden, reading a book next to my dog. Also when I get especially focused on my work, doing design or videos just for fun.

11. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

Unfortunately last year I wasn’t involved in any extracurricular activities because I needed to work and study at the same time. But in Porto I have friends that make exhibitions with social engagement and I used to help then in whatever they needed such a design, paste illegal posters on the streets, montage and so on… They promote mostly female artists and call attention to the inequality in the arts market. This work is very important in my opinion, especially in a small city like Porto. Most of the art students there are women but unfortunately most of them don’t have the same visibility as male artists.

For self-care I do yoga, knitting and sewing. It’s my therapy.

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

Now I want to be involved in making video art. It is a completely different language and I’ve got so much to explore. I hope I get a job that allows me to do that. In the future I don’t know, I just want to grow old thinking that I did everything that I wanted in my life.

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

I still have the fear of failure, of not be good enough. I need to be more confident and believe more in myself.

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

I think I would not change a thing. It was my mistakes that brought me where I am in life, making me the person I am today. I like mistakes, I can learn from them and move forward.

15. What inspires you?

In my work, mostly cities and their inhabitants. I like the urban vibe of things and the marks that people leave on places. That’s why I like street art.

In my personal life, I’m inspired by other women, their stories and accomplishments.

16. What are you hopeful about?

I’m a dreamer, I remain hopeful about a better world. I tend to trust in the good in people even thought sometimes is hard. I hope for and believe in equality.

17. What are some ingredients to a good life?

Being free to do what you want and having many friends around to support you.

18. What is a quality you most love about yourself and why?

I am a very open-minded person. I try to always be kind to others and help in whatever ways I can without dishing out judgement. Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes. Kindness can make life easier.

19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Believe in yourself, don’t be afraid to try and go for something new. Don’t worry (or care) about what other people think.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

I really enjoy poetry. Lately I’ve been reading poems by E. E. Cummings and a Portuguese poet Adília Lopes. The last book I read was “Invisible Cities” by Calvino (amazing book!!) and I hope to be able to read more now that I finished my Masters.

One of my favourite books remains “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera. I remember reading it on the train during my travels, when I wasa 17-years-old.

21. Who is a WOW Woman in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?

I have had great luck of being surrounded by inspiring women that always pushed me forward: my friends!

But if I have to nominate three, then I must nominate the ones that raised me:

My mother Angelina. She had me when she was really young; she always was and remains a fighter! She had to raise me and my brother alone and work very hard to give us the best life she could. She continues to teach me to not complicate things and follow my dreams. “There is no right or wrong”, she would always say to me when felt stuck in life.

My grandmother Deolinda. She raise all the children and grandchildren in the family while working at home as a seamstress. Still don’t know handled it all, having so much work on her plate. I think I like arts because of her since she used to gave me paper and pens to keep me quiet and busy. My sense of style comes from her, ever since I started designing my own clothes with her when I was a little kid. She taught me the basics of sewing.

My great-grandmother Victoria. She was a country woman that had a small farm that she managed by herself. She didn’t have access to a formal education but nonetheless was able to put all four children through school and two of them reached college. She also had a small room on the farm that served as a school for girls. At the time schools in Portugal were divided by gender and there were fewer schools for girls. This is where my grandmother Deolinda taught the workers’ daughters how to read and count. For me she was always a visionary in her time and thanks to her many young girls were able to have access to some education.

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

I put together a project about visual representation of words in other languages that don’t have specific translation. You can find it on Instagram: @wordsnotranslation/

My Masters project can be found on my vimeo channel: vimeo.com/helenanunes

Stay tuned for my website.