Saudade
萨乌达德

2016

To Chris Middlemiss #W96566

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My dearest Chris,

I’ve been painting all year… There’s a room full of paintings now! Sometimes they’re cold and blue, sometimes they’re warm and brown but I couldn’t finish any of them - it’s really hard to paint moments that exist only in my head, especially when the person I’m painting is not here. I think this is what the Portuguese mean by ‘saudade’ - a present absence born of longing. I’ve got stretcher bars, but I’ll leave them be for now: I know your sentence is for life, but maybe we can still finish the paintings someday? I’ll write to you again next week. Until then, please take care my friend.

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Yours in saudade,

Kai  

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致克里斯梅德梅斯 #W96566

亲爱的克里斯，

我这一年都在画画， 如今满屋子都是画！它们时而蓝冷，时而暖褐，但我一幅也没有完成。 只因那存于脑中画面，以及此刻缺席的人物，这般难以表达。这莫非就是葡萄牙人所谓的‘萨乌达德’：一个日日无终的期待，成了日日如有的陪伴。

我的画布框榫头俱全，但暂放一边。 知道你是无期徒刑，可或许某一天我们能完成这些画？

我下周再写信给你。请多多保重。

于萨乌达德，

凯

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