The title of this exhibition arises from a satirical expression that ironically reflects the symbolic, and often undervalued, ways in which illustrators’ work is rewarded: a hug, a sandwich, or another gesture of apparent generosity that conceals the lack of recognition of illustration as a profession. The choice of this title highlights, by contrast, the quality and maturity of the work presented here.

The exhibition marks the conclusion of the Project course unit of the Master’s in Illustration, Publishing and Printing (MIEI) at FBAUP (Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Porto), in the academic year 2024–2025. Each student presents a book conceived from scratch — written or adapted, illustrated, and designed — emerging as a unique editorial object while also engaging in dialogue with the vast universe of visual narrative.

The works span different genres and typologies: from the picture book to comics, from silent narratives to graphic novels. Some are rooted in personal memory, others in fiction or documentary research; all expand the field of illustrated narrative, revealing diverse approaches that oscillate between the intimate and the imagined, the critical and the poetic.

Um Abraço e Um Pão Com Panado (A Hug and a Sandwich) is, therefore, a celebration of illustrated narrative and of the talent of a new generation of authors. These works show that, far from being content with symbolic rewards, illustrators affirm their place as indispensable creators in today’s cultural landscape.