"Saudades" is the Portuguese word for the feeling of missing, and perhaps the most felt feeling during these weird times. The Covid-19 pandemic was catastrophic worldwide; in Brazil it has never been controlled.

When Brazilian multimedia artist Marília Gurgel's grandfather, Edvaldo Cunha, died from complications of Covid-19 in late August 2020, her feeling of loneliness grew. Suddenly, she found herself lost and lonely. That's when she decided to go back to her hometown, Mossoro, northeast of Brazil, and grieve with those who were grieving too.

“‘Saudades’ is documenting this moment of grief as a journey of self-knowledge, of rediscovering the self, of rebirth. I am looking at my family's memories, understanding how they are part of who we are, and how they can guide us on a path of transformation, of healing. I was looking for an answer to the question my grandmother asked me: ‘How to find out who you are after your biggest companion dies?’ I documented my grandmother's journey into this process of rebirth, and I also saw my mother's growth and both their processes reflected my own,” shares the photographer about the project.