This project is very important to me. This place grew up with me and held an important place in my childhood. It was where our first games took place, where I first kicked a ball, where we stepped on bottles to make our improvised “motorbikes.” We stayed out until late, at a time when coming home late was our biggest problem.

Naturally, it became a place that reflects much of who I am.

This area is known as Lírios, for some of the older residents, it is called Bairro de Santa Terezinha. It is located in Algueirão–Mem Martins.

It is a place that has been a source of inspiration, where many of the references that shape my work today were born. In this piece, a woman is represented who, as a resident of this place, has also witnessed it grow and change.

It is a place where the main character is the neighbourhood itself.

Just as the people in our lives help define who we are, the place where we grow up also shapes us.

It is within these spaces that we build connections and develop a sense of belonging. Throughout life, different phases may lead us to live in other places; even so, that distance should only reinforce the value of where we come from.

Life sometimes forces us to seek alternatives, even when they go against what we believe is right. Still, if the neighbourhood is a mirror of who we are, we also reflect the light that fills these streets, day and night. Wherever we go, we carry with us the character of the place where we grew up.

This work serves as a reminder to always keep in our hearts the roots that helped us grow, to understand where we can make a difference, to remain faithful to our origins, and to live by what has been passed on to us. We may not always know what the next step will be, but we should remember the paths we have already walked and never forget what started that journey.