Home, carried
In my practice, I explore the intersection of human life, history, and contemporary society, focusing on themes like home, hope, and memory. Central to my work is the exploration of everyday rituals, such as eating bread, to reveal deeper meanings of compassion, power dynamics, and overlooked aspects of life. My
research also focuses on post-colonial studies and memory archiving, shaped by my family's experience with Soviet repression. This personal history guides my exploration of how individuals find hope and resilience in
dire situations. Growing up in a country repeatedly occupied by foreign powers, I’ve witnessed the lasting impact of political oppression. My research engages with marginalized histories and explores how unresolved historical traumas shape current conflicts. In this research project I would like to examine the concept of "home" and the sense of it through interviews, exploring how scent and memory shape our sense of it.
I have worked with bread as a symbol of survival and resistance, reflecting on how mundane things can carry deep cultural and political significance. My research aims to highlight forgotten histories and marginalized experiences, using art and storytelling to foster empathy and understanding. I plan to create an exhibition that encourages active engagement and compassion as well as an artistic publication, combining academic and creative practices to engage with these issues.
Results
In addition to the theoretical research and the collection of interviews, the outcome will be an installation that invites participatory action and compassion. The installation will invite visitors to engage physically and emotionally, facilitating a dynamic exploration of sensitive topics. In this way, the exhibition becomes an integral component of the research process, allowing for an examination of how people respond to and interact with these topics. This way, the installation itself becomes part of the research, exploring how people respond and engage with often sensitive topics and how I, as an artist, can support these interactions.
