For João Moreno, the Alentejo recalls his childhood holidays between Borba and Vila Viçosa. The smell of oranges in the street early in the morning, the marble walls feeling cool when the heat takes hold, the shadows beneath the lemon tree in his grandmother’s house, are memories that are revived whenever he visits those lands.

Being Marion’s host enabled him see things with the eyes of someone who is visiting this region for the first time and thus to discover a new Alentejo, looking for what best represents it. It could be the light, the contrast between the saturation of colours and the whitewashed walls, the cork oaks in the countryside, the lemon trees in the villages and the extraordinary line of horizon, which so visibly embodies the melancholy spirit of its people.

Évora

Estremoz


Vila Viçosa


Monsaraz




Elvas


Campo Maior


Arronches


Marvão


Castelo de Vide

João Moreno
He was born in 1969 in Porto, and studied in Brussels, where he remained until 1994. He draws, teaches, restores turntables and builds valve and transistor amplifiers. He illustrates texts and music, representing reality and dreams. Almost always in watercolour and black pen, with a surreal twist.

Blog: http://joaomoreno-sketchbookstories.blogspot.pt
Instragram: www.instagram.com/joaobmoreno