A man embarks on a journey to uncover an unlikely natural place, searching endlessly for answers—until an unexpected revelation changes everything.
Transparent is a story about the profound discovery of true friendship. It is through openness and honesty that we truly come to know one another.

This book marks my first step into writing. The narrative follows a man deeply immersed in his imagination and studies, whose world is turned upside down by an encounter with a being who, at first, seems completely different from him. This surprising connection not only challenges his perspective but also sets him on a path of self-discovery, leading to an even greater revelation.

A boy's encounter with an alien sparks an extraordinary dialogue about their different ways of life. The alien seeks to speak with a leader but struggles to grasp a society where no single person holds absolute power. To help him understand, the boy introduces him to the workings of democracy, illustrating its core principles through key moments that define it.
This story not only presents a brief history of democracy but also brings the concept to life, making it tangible and real for the reader.

One of the most exciting challenges in this book was bringing to life a variety of vivid and contrasting settings. From the depths of the forest to the energy of election day, from a crowd of passionate demonstrators to a conversation between representatives and citizens. I also had the chance to imagine an alien world ruled by a dictator and even take a journey back to prehistory, where the roots of democracy first emerged. It was an incredible experience to visually explore these moments and make them come alive for the reader.

2024
Leva-me ao teu Líder

Published by
Assembleia da República

Text by
Afonso Cruz

Coleção Missão: Democracia

City
Lisbon

Translation

In the book Tea in the Azores An Afternoon at Gorreana, Maria Emanuel Albergaria tells the story of Rita, a girl who spends an afternoon at the Gorreana Tea factory, where reality and dreams mix, where characters from different times and places appear to talk about tea, in the world and on the island of São Miguel, its origins, how it is produced, etc. All this is interwoven with the history of the factory itself.

My illustrations complement and expand the text, enriching it and opening the way to dreams and a journey that goes beyond formal knowledge.
To do the illustrations I was lucky enough to have the chance to do an artistic residency in S. Miguel, Azores. I did more than one thousand photographs and dozens of drawings in loco, enriching this illustration project’s final result.  

2023
Chá na Gorreana Uma tarde nos Açores

Published by
Araucaria

Text by
Maria Emanuel Albergaria

Photography by
Daniel Blaufuks

Graphic design by
José Albergaria

Revisions