Not long after settling in Tavira in 2009, I met Auristela Leão (Tela Leão) at the Álvaro de Campos Library. We bonded over our love of books, literature, writers, artists and performance. Born in Brazil and resident of Tavira from 2007, she distinguished herself as a cultural programmer and civil society activist. In her younger days, she was a professional actress, arriving in Portugal in the 1970s with a travelling theatre group before returning to Brazil.
She was a Deputy Director of Cultural Programming at Expo98 in Lisbon, and director of cultural programming for Portugal at Expo 2000 in Hannover (Germany) and Expo 2008 in Zaragoza (Spain), and also Festa programming coordinator in Lisbon in 2003 and 2004.
I knew her as dear Tela, who would call at the last minute to remind me to turn up to take photos, attend a poetry reading, or watch a dance performance.
In 2013, as part of International Women’s Day, I wrote an article about ‘Women Who Inspire’, and Tela was front and centre.
She said at the time that art is the best bridge “between souls and the best tool to overcome the differences of culture”. She saw her work as a way to challenge people from different origins, cultures or neighbourhoods to work together, to see and find common ground, to enjoy the experience and create brilliant pieces of art that will drive us through gestures and signs, directly into the “genome of the human soul”
I wrote “She does this work because her ideal world is one of tolerance, solidarity, kindness and compassion. She said it is “an almost silly dream… I know”.
She was inspired by her father. He was “like a big heart, inhabited by a brilliant mind and the most generous soul”.
Being an artist was not always easy, “many times I have been confronted with situations where I had to choose a side, and I chose to always stand by honest, ethical and transparent behaviour.” This choice made her lose jobs and opportunities, but she said, “It has also helped me to sort out my true friends.”
When she set up Tavira Ilimitada in 2015, she was pushing back against growing racism and hate. She was steady in her belief that communities could connect through art, poetry and words. That year, I recorded an interview with her about her plans for connecting artists in the town by celebrating the 125th anniversary of Álvaro de Campos (it can be found online).
So began the birthday party of Álvaro de Campos in Tavira, an annual multidisciplinary cultural event held during October and November that brings together artists and performers in the town.
Tela passed away on November 8, 2025, aged 74, during the festa she had created.
Condolences to her partner, journalist, critic and playwright Rudolf Engelander, as well as to her son Vinicius Leão, daughter Ana Luísa Leão and to the rest of the family, friends and colleagues.
By Sue Hall
