“home is an illusion”
Being brought up in multicultural backgrounds, born in Wales, U.K., raised in China,
educated at American International Schools, passport-wise identified as South Korean
(although I had never lived in Korea until recently), and currently based in Atlanta (GA), I
have always been classified as “International.” A fusion of diverse cultures, customs, and
languages - a living testament to the concept of hybrid identity.
“Home" has always been an elusive concept for me, and over the years, I have continued
to struggle with finding my sense of belonging and identity. The inability to neatly fit into a
single cultural frame has often left me with a deep sense of alienation, a realization that
struck me profoundly. Having roots in diverse cultures did not necessarily result in an
enriched sense of belonging; instead, it often meant dwelling in the realm of cultural
homelessness.
The concept of “home” always fascinated me, given its versatile and abstract nature,
which motivated me to investigate and seek out fellow multicultural individuals who, like
me, grapple with the question “where are you from” and confront challenges of
developing a strong sense of belonging. These individuals share feelings of displacement,
loneliness and, above all, the deep sense of being foreign to both their heritage and host
culture. Nevertheless, they find solace and relief from the persistent sensation of feeling
lost through connections.
Their ties with friends, family, objects, and nature lay the foundation for establishing a
sense of belonging that transcends the boundaries of nationality or ethnicity. It becomes
clear that it is not the culture they are living in or the culture of their parents that defines
their sense of home or who they are. Instead, it is the culture they create themselves
through their connections that shapes what "home" means to them. Home is not
something permanent or immobile; it can be found wherever they go.
In addition, the most profound similarity that I found within these individuals was a
powerful unyielding spirit — a fire that burned as brightly as their fractured identities. This
project not only seeks to articulate that culture and identity is established through
multifaceted connections - whether emotional, physical or psychological - with the people
we choose to connect with, objects, and the natural world within our environment, but it
is also highlights the significant power that comes with isolation.
Furthermore, Nature serves as a recurring motif in this project, symbolizing a realm that
unconditionally accepts our mere existence. Unlike the societal constructs and labels
we've imposed on ourselves, nature makes no inquiries about our backgrounds or
cultural contexts. It is only within nature that we can all share a collective sense of
belonging, reminding us of the importance of acknowledging our senses and presence—
aspects that are often obscured by our self-created divisions.