We are more than strangers

This project is an exploration of memory, migration, home, and belonging, reflecting a personal journey through displacement and reconnection.

'We are more than strangers'
This project is an exploration of memory, migration, home, and belonging, reflecting a personal journey through displacement and reconnection. The project was born from a sense of memory loss, particularly relating to the early days of the artist's migration. The absence of family photo albums and personal archives led to a period of deep reflection on what is left behind - both physically and emotionally - during the process of migration. This reflection raised questions about belonging, regret, and how memories are preserved or lost over time. Driven by a desire to avoid further loss and to carry memories forward, the artist began documenting stays with both familiar and unfamiliar people - not only to preserve the past, but also to create new memories. Having lived away from home for some years without establishing a true sense of home in her surroundings, she is now seeking to remember what it once felt like to belong somewhere. The work started with visits and a reunion to the homes of friends and previous photographic subjects, capturing shared moments in new, intimate settings. From there, it expanded to include strangers who opened their homes for brief stays ranging from a few hours to overnight visits. All hosts were women, fostering comfort, care, and deeper collaborative engagement. These encounters with the unknown and unfamiliar - new people, new spaces, new routines - became central to the project’s approach. In each of these interactions, the artist was also a stranger - entering someone else's private world. Each stay is viewed as a form of small migration, where trust and memory are built in unfamiliar environments. The project investigates broad questions, such as: Where do people feel at home? What creates a sense of belonging?