The Alliance Française do Porto is a non-profit cultural association, founded in 2006. It is part of the global network of Alliances Françaises, which are coordinated by the Fondation des Alliances Françaises. Its mission is to promote French language and francophone cultures, as well as foster intercultural exchange, including integration of Francophone communities, and also offering Portuguese for foreigners.

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After receiving the invitation to hold an exhibition at the Alliance Française, I began to think about which works might resonate with a French-speaking audience. If "roosters "and "fish" series became my key to understanding Portugal, then for France I have yet to find my own subjects. For this exhibition, I chose a series of floral compositions and urban landscapes.

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To me, they share a certain simplicity and decorative quality. These bouquets contain little greenery; their color palette is softened — “slightly dusted,” pastel in tone. The incredible, unexpected colorful façades of Porto’s houses also seem slightly faded, “washed out,” muted by the rain. Against the gray sky, they appear like old flags.

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On the streets of Porto, I rarely see pure white. The city is painted instead in shades of yellow, blue, and an astonishing variety of grays. The gray here has many faces. In several of the works, the main characters are trees — distinctive to me for their silhouette and scale.

(Helen Ivashkin)​