Simone Pilla- Saudades

Saudades takes its title from the Portuguese word that describes a deep, untranslatable sense of longing, nostalgia & absence. This piece explores my search for belonging after spending half of my life between countries & cultures. As my understanding of home became more abstract, I found in nature a quiet return to myself. Migration is often associated with freedom & adventure, yet it can also create a feeling of displacement. After living in multiple places, I no longer know where home is. It is not defined by where I was born, where I felt most comfortable, or where I last lived. Instead, it becomes an emotional landscape shaped by memory, loss & connection. This piece is a visual & organic representation of my journey through migration & a reconnection with my roots through nature. Both cathartic & reflective, it was created from a place of profound longing. While my Brazilian roots remain deeply embedded within me, nature has become the only place that consistently evokes a sense of home, belonging & healing.

Medium: Warm Midfire 33