This project consists of a sequence of nine illustrations inspired by the works of some of the most remarkable voices in Portuguese poetry and literature. Drawing from the words of Carlos Mota de Oliveira, Fernando Pessoa, José Gomes Ferreira, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, Egito Gonçalves, Mário Henrique Leiria, Luiz Pacheco, Ana Hatherly, Herberto Helder, Rui Reininho, Adília Lopes, Rui Zink, Nuno Artur Silva, Manuel João Vieira, José Carlos Barros, António Amaral Tavares, Luís Afonso, Luís Filipe Parrado, Manuel de Freitas, Henrique Manuel Bento Fialho, Renata Correia Botelho, Cláudia Lucas Chéu, Ricardo Marques, Andreia C. Faria, Francisca Camelo, and Francisca Bartilotti, the illustrations do not merely translate these poetic works into image. Instead, they follow their own visual narrative—one that emerges from the essence and atmosphere of the poetry, yet weaves a new story, independent but deeply intertwined with the literary inspiration.

Created using gouache on 300g Arches paper, these illustrations were projected during the poetic soirée Quintas de Leitura – O Poema Foi ao Médico dos Olhos, held on October 24, 2024, at Teatro do Campo Alegre. The event brought together an extraordinary lineup of poets, musicians, and performers, transforming words into an immersive sensory experience.

A heartfelt thank you to João Gesta for the invitation to be part of this unforgettable night, alongside João Pedro George, Larie, Margarida Monteny, JP Simões, Raúl da Costa, Rui Spranger, Mia Tomé, Isaque Ferreira, and Sandra Salomé.

O poema foi ao médico dos olhos
2024


Quintas da Leitura
Performance


Curator 
João Gesta




























You can also see

Monção
Book. ‘Dicionário livre e delirante feito a partir de uma colheita de palavras nas terras do Alto Minho’. Text Raul Pereira. 2023
New arguments
Website + Book. ‘Short Films for a New Age’. Curator Luís Belo. 2024
Imaginary bookshop
Exhibition. ‘PIM Illustration Exhibition To Imagine the World’. Curator Mafalda MIlhões. Nova Ogiva gallery in the Literary Village of Óbidos. 2023
Palácio da Pena
Festival. ‘Ilustre Sintra’. Hipopómatos na Lua. Nazaré de Sousa e Renata Bueno. 2023
O poeta é um lampejo na escuridão das noites
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2023
Nascidos no Silêncio
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 202
Fire
Exhibition ‘When everything matters’. Curator Pictoric. Kyiv. 2023
Creatures’ jungle
(2023) Creatures’ jungle, O!Galeria. Incredibulus Animalus
Bologna Children’s Book Fair Visual Identity
Visual identity. Design Chia Lab. Bologna. 2023
Imaginary Places
Exhibition ‘11ª Mostra de Ilustração da Maia’. Curator Cláudia Melo. Maia. 2021
Luar de Janeiro
Exhibition. Text Maria Ondina Braga. 22 x 22 Braga em Risco. 2022
Summer camp
Exhibition ‘No man is an island’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2021


Imaginary life
Exhibition ‘Favourite Things’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2020
Monsters
Exhibition ‘Life buoy’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2020
Love
Exhibition ‘Love bottle’. Curator Circus Network. Oporto. 2015
Miracles
Exhibition. ‘Os Milagres da Santa’. Curator Circus Network. Guimarães. 2016
Clergies Tower
Exhibition. ‘Bibó Porto Carago!’ Curator Circus Network. Oporto. 2015
Saúde
Book. 'A paz, o pão, habitação, saúde, educação'. Text various. 2024
Imaginary Places
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2015
A poesia tem pés de terra
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2022
Building the world
Visual identity. Editorial. Curator Horácio Marques / ESMAD. Design Vitor Quelhas. Client Ferreira Build Power. 2022
Play festival
Visual identity. Cinema São Jorge. 2022
Crescer
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Client LuCA. 2022
It’s cristal clear
Visual identity. ISCAP/CEOS. 2021
Merry Christmas
Illustration and animation. Client Manuel Pizarro. 2021
Caril de robalo
Visual identity. Client José Gourmet. Graphic design Luís Mendonça. 2021
Adobe MAX
Adobe MAX. Art direction Laundry Service. Client Adobe. 2021
Quem não arrisca não petisca
(2020) Postcard O Beija-Flor
Passaporte Natura 2000
App. Design and development, Significa. Client, Palombar, 2020
I’m not giving up on any of my dreams
2020
Falling
Calendar. Beija-Flor 2017
Family Holiday
Exhibition. Curator Ó!Galeria. 2016
Espetáculos
Visual identity. Education Service booklet. Shows. Design André Cruz. Client Casa da Música
Singular
Visual identity. Packaging. Client A&D WINES. 2010-2020 
Monólogo
Visual identity. Packaging. Client A&D WINES. 2010-2020 
Menina d’Uva
Visual identity. Packaging. Client Menina d’Uva. 2020-2024
Future
Exhibition. Illustra 33’, ADCE Europe Festival 'Prototyping brands for a new era’. Curator Jorge Silva. 2020
Pattern
Textile. Client Sacoor Brothers. 2020
Fearless
Exhibition. 'Prata da casa', Festival Clube de Criativos de Portugal, Jardim Botto Machado. Curator André da Loba. 2019
Imaginary Places, a journey of a mind traveler
Self-proposed. An ongoing lifelong self-initiated project started in 2015
Erasmus +
Exhibition. ESAD Matosinhos. All the silkscreen limited editions were pulled at Esad by Catarina Lopes. 2023
You can ask for three wishes
Exhibition. 'Caruma’. Curated by Instantes Mutantes. 2019
I want to ride by bike”
Exhibition. Curator Francisco Vaz da Silva. Client Universidade de Aveiro. 2017
Lugares Imaginários
Exhibition. ‘Uivo’. Curator Ema Sara Ribeiro. 2017
Imaginary friends
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2016
Snow Days
Exhibition. ‘Peep show ’. Curator Ó! Galeria. 2015
Inside a box
Exhibition. ‘Uivo’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Fórum da Maia. 2015
Dia App
App. Graphic design Significa. 2022
Pilates
Visual Identity. Client Gingko Studio. 2023
Braga
Exhibition. 22x22. Curator Braga em Risco. 2023
Perfumes e Companhia
Postcards. Client Perfumes e Companhia. 2023
Hiberno
Exhibition. ‘Jukebox’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2024
Viagem à Lua
Exhibition. ‘My favorite movie II’. A tribute to Georges Méliès. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2024
Unseen Civilians
Exhibition. ‘Art for freedom’. Curator Pictoric. Germany, France and Portugal. 2024
I developed the illustrations for a website that was later published as a book, featuring original arguments for films that don’t yet exist—except on paper. Through my illustrations, I bring these cinematic worlds to life, visually interpreting stories crafted by various screenwriters. Each piece captures the essence, mood, and atmosphere of these imagined films, offering a glimpse into narratives waiting to unfold on the big screen.

This project bridges the gap between literature and cinema, inviting audiences to experience the magic of storytelling through both words and images.

New Arguments
2024

Website + Book


Curator 
Luís Belo

Client
Short Films for a New Age












You can also see

Monção
Book. ‘Dicionário livre e delirante feito a partir de uma colheita de palavras nas terras do Alto Minho’. Text Raul Pereira. 2023
O poema foi ao médico dos olhos
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2024

Imaginary bookshop
Exhibition. ‘PIM Illustration Exhibition To Imagine the World’. Curator Mafalda MIlhões. Nova Ogiva gallery in the Literary Village of Óbidos. 2023
Palácio da Pena
Festival. ‘Ilustre Sintra’. Hipopómatos na Lua. Nazaré de Sousa e Renata Bueno. 2023
O poeta é um lampejo na escuridão das noites
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2023
Nascidos no Silêncio
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 202
Fire
Exhibition ‘When everything matters’. Curator Pictoric. Kyiv. 2023
Creatures’ jungle
(2023) Creatures’ jungle, O!Galeria. Incredibulus Animalus
Bologna Children’s Book Fair Visual Identity
Visual identity. Design Chia Lab. Bologna. 2023
Imaginary Places
Exhibition ‘11ª Mostra de Ilustração da Maia’. Curator Cláudia Melo. Maia. 2021
Luar de Janeiro
Exhibition. Text Maria Ondina Braga. 22 x 22 Braga em Risco. 2022
Summer camp
Exhibition ‘No man is an island’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2021


Imaginary life
Exhibition ‘Favourite Things’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2020
Monsters
Exhibition ‘Life buoy’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2020
Love
Exhibition ‘Love bottle’. Curator Circus Network. Oporto. 2015
Miracles
Exhibition. ‘Os Milagres da Santa’. Curator Circus Network. Guimarães. 2016
Clergies Tower
Exhibition. ‘Bibó Porto Carago!’ Curator Circus Network. Oporto. 2015
Saúde
Book. 'A paz, o pão, habitação, saúde, educação'. Text various. 2024
Imaginary Places
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2015
A poesia tem pés de terra
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2022
Building the world
Visual identity. Editorial. Curator Horácio Marques / ESMAD. Design Vitor Quelhas. Client Ferreira Build Power. 2022
Play festival
Visual identity. Cinema São Jorge. 2022
Crescer
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Client LuCA. 2022
It’s cristal clear
Visual identity. ISCAP/CEOS. 2021
Merry Christmas
Illustration and animation. Client Manuel Pizarro. 2021
Caril de robalo
Visual identity. Client José Gourmet. Graphic design Luís Mendonça. 2021
Adobe MAX
Adobe MAX. Art direction Laundry Service. Client Adobe. 2021
Quem não arrisca não petisca
(2020) Postcard O Beija-Flor
Passaporte Natura 2000
App. Design and development, Significa. Client, Palombar, 2020
I’m not giving up on any of my dreams
2020
Falling
Calendar. Beija-Flor 2017
Family Holiday
Exhibition. Curator Ó!Galeria. 2016
Espetáculos
Visual identity. Education Service booklet. Shows. Design André Cruz. Client Casa da Música
Singular
Visual identity. Packaging. Client A&D WINES. 2010-2020 
Monólogo
Visual identity. Packaging. Client A&D WINES. 2010-2020 
Menina d’Uva
Visual identity. Packaging. Client Menina d’Uva. 2020-2024
Future
Exhibition. Illustra 33’, ADCE Europe Festival 'Prototyping brands for a new era’. Curator Jorge Silva. 2020
Pattern
Textile. Client Sacoor Brothers. 2020
Fearless
Exhibition. 'Prata da casa', Festival Clube de Criativos de Portugal, Jardim Botto Machado. Curator André da Loba. 2019
Imaginary Places, a journey of a mind traveler
Self-proposed. An ongoing lifelong self-initiated project started in 2015
Erasmus +
Exhibition. ESAD Matosinhos. All the silkscreen limited editions were pulled at Esad by Catarina Lopes. 2023
You can ask for three wishes
Exhibition. 'Caruma’. Curated by Instantes Mutantes. 2019
I want to ride by bike”
Exhibition. Curator Francisco Vaz da Silva. Client Universidade de Aveiro. 2017
Lugares Imaginários
Exhibition. ‘Uivo’. Curator Ema Sara Ribeiro. 2017
Imaginary friends
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2016
Snow Days
Exhibition. ‘Peep show ’. Curator Ó! Galeria. 2015
Inside a box
Exhibition. ‘Uivo’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Fórum da Maia. 2015
Dia App
App. Graphic design Significa. 2022
Pilates
Visual Identity. Client Gingko Studio. 2023
Braga
Exhibition. 22x22. Curator Braga em Risco. 2023
Perfumes e Companhia
Postcards. Client Perfumes e Companhia. 2023
Hiberno
Exhibition. ‘Jukebox’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2024
Viagem à Lua
Exhibition. ‘My favorite movie II’. A tribute to Georges Méliès. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2024
Unseen Civilians
Exhibition. ‘Art for freedom’. Curator Pictoric. Germany, France and Portugal. 2024
This project consists of a sequence of ten illustrations created for Quintas de Leitura – O Poeta é um Lampejo na Escuridão das Noites, a night dedicated to poetry, performance, and artistic fusion.

Inspired by the words of poets such as Alberto Pimenta, Alexandre O’Neill, Ana Luísa Amaral, Ana Paula Inácio, Bénédicte Houart, Daniel Maia-Pinto Rodrigues, Eugénio de Andrade, Fernando Assis Pacheco, José Gomes Ferreira, Mário Cesariny, Mário-Henrique Leiria, Miguel Martins, Natália Correia, Paulo José Miranda, and Raquel Nobre Guerra, the illustrations form a visual sequence that does not merely interpret the poems but weaves a new, parallel narrative—one that captures the essence, rhythm, and contrasts of the evening’s poetic selection.

Throughout the night, the audience was guided through a rich poetic journey by Cristiana Sabino, Idalinda Fitas, Manuela Gomes, António Domingos, and Jorge Pereira, with Sandra Salomé orchestrating the event through a carefully curated poetic menu. Music by Filho da Mãe, Bia Maria, and Valter Lobo, illusionism by Daniel Guedes, and pole dancing by Melina Mayumi added layers of movement, sound, and mystery to the performance.

It’s always a pleasure to collaborate with Teatro Municipal do Porto—a space where poetry, music, and visual arts intertwine. A huge thank you to João Gesta for the invitation to bring my illustrations into this unforgettable night.

O poeta é um lampejo na escuridão das noites
2023
Performance


Quintas da Leitura

Curator
João Gesta














You can also see

Monção
Book. ‘Dicionário livre e delirante feito a partir de uma colheita de palavras nas terras do Alto Minho’. Text Raul Pereira. 2023
O poema foi ao médico dos olhos
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2024

New arguments
Website + Book. ‘Short Films for a New Age’. Curator Luís Belo. 2024
Imaginary bookshop
Exhibition. ‘PIM Illustration Exhibition To Imagine the World’. Curator Mafalda MIlhões. Nova Ogiva gallery in the Literary Village of Óbidos. 2023
Palácio da Pena
Festival. ‘Ilustre Sintra’. Hipopómatos na Lua. Nazaré de Sousa e Renata Bueno. 2023
Nascidos no Silêncio
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 202
Fire
Exhibition ‘When everything matters’. Curator Pictoric. Kyiv. 2023
Creatures’ jungle
(2023) Creatures’ jungle, O!Galeria. Incredibulus Animalus
Bologna Children’s Book Fair Visual Identity
Visual identity. Design Chia Lab. Bologna. 2023
Imaginary Places
Exhibition ‘11ª Mostra de Ilustração da Maia’. Curator Cláudia Melo. Maia. 2021
Luar de Janeiro
Exhibition. Text Maria Ondina Braga. 22 x 22 Braga em Risco. 2022
Summer camp
Exhibition ‘No man is an island’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2021


Imaginary life
Exhibition ‘Favourite Things’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2020
Monsters
Exhibition ‘Life buoy’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2020
Love
Exhibition ‘Love bottle’. Curator Circus Network. Oporto. 2015
Miracles
Exhibition. ‘Os Milagres da Santa’. Curator Circus Network. Guimarães. 2016
Clergies Tower
Exhibition. ‘Bibó Porto Carago!’ Curator Circus Network. Oporto. 2015
Saúde
Book. 'A paz, o pão, habitação, saúde, educação'. Text various. 2024
Imaginary Places
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2015
A poesia tem pés de terra
Performance. Quintas da Leitura. Curator João Gesta. 2022
Building the world
Visual identity. Editorial. Curator Horácio Marques / ESMAD. Design Vitor Quelhas. Client Ferreira Build Power. 2022
Play festival
Visual identity. Cinema São Jorge. 2022
Crescer
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Client LuCA. 2022
It’s cristal clear
Visual identity. ISCAP/CEOS. 2021
Merry Christmas
Illustration and animation. Client Manuel Pizarro. 2021
Caril de robalo
Visual identity. Client José Gourmet. Graphic design Luís Mendonça. 2021
Adobe MAX
Adobe MAX. Art direction Laundry Service. Client Adobe. 2021
Quem não arrisca não petisca
(2020) Postcard O Beija-Flor
Passaporte Natura 2000
App. Design and development, Significa. Client, Palombar, 2020
I’m not giving up on any of my dreams
2020
Falling
Calendar. Beija-Flor 2017
Family Holiday
Exhibition. Curator Ó!Galeria. 2016
Espetáculos
Visual identity. Education Service booklet. Shows. Design André Cruz. Client Casa da Música
Singular
Visual identity. Packaging. Client A&D WINES. 2010-2020 
Monólogo
Visual identity. Packaging. Client A&D WINES. 2010-2020 
Menina d’Uva
Visual identity. Packaging. Client Menina d’Uva. 2020-2024
Future
Exhibition. Illustra 33’, ADCE Europe Festival 'Prototyping brands for a new era’. Curator Jorge Silva. 2020
Pattern
Textile. Client Sacoor Brothers. 2020
Fearless
Exhibition. 'Prata da casa', Festival Clube de Criativos de Portugal, Jardim Botto Machado. Curator André da Loba. 2019
Imaginary Places, a journey of a mind traveler
Self-proposed. An ongoing lifelong self-initiated project started in 2015
Erasmus +
Exhibition. ESAD Matosinhos. All the silkscreen limited editions were pulled at Esad by Catarina Lopes. 2023
You can ask for three wishes
Exhibition. 'Caruma’. Curated by Instantes Mutantes. 2019
I want to ride by bike”
Exhibition. Curator Francisco Vaz da Silva. Client Universidade de Aveiro. 2017
Lugares Imaginários
Exhibition. ‘Uivo’. Curator Ema Sara Ribeiro. 2017
Imaginary friends
Exhibition. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2016
Snow Days
Exhibition. ‘Peep show ’. Curator Ó! Galeria. 2015
Inside a box
Exhibition. ‘Uivo’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Fórum da Maia. 2015
Dia App
App. Graphic design Significa. 2022
Pilates
Visual Identity. Client Gingko Studio. 2023
Braga
Exhibition. 22x22. Curator Braga em Risco. 2023
Perfumes e Companhia
Postcards. Client Perfumes e Companhia. 2023
Hiberno
Exhibition. ‘Jukebox’. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2024
Viagem à Lua
Exhibition. ‘My favorite movie II’. A tribute to Georges Méliès. Curator Ó! Galeria. Oporto. 2024
Unseen Civilians
Exhibition. ‘Art for freedom’. Curator Pictoric. Germany, France and Portugal. 2024

In the long-kept silence that lingers between past and present—where reality and fiction blur—hidden spaces of refuge emerge. Within these rediscovered places, dozens of voiceless characters are born, still without a story. Their inert bodies yearn for movement, for meaning, for a path that only the most daring dreamers can uncover.

Curated by Ó! Galeria, Born in Silence invites viewers to step into this liminal space, to connect with figures suspended in time, and to imagine the narratives they have yet to tell.

Nascidos no silêncio
2023


Exhibition
Oporto


Curator 
Ó! Galeria



© Mariana Rio 2010-2025