Home Away From Home

The idea for the ‘Home Away from Home’ publication project emerged from my experiences navigating a new identity as an immigrant in the UK. They were formed against a backdrop of a global pandemic: worsening xenophobia, little real-life contact and the further marginalisation of minoritised people. In these testing and precarious times, I am eager to create a collaborative platform for artists and writers from a minority ethnic or diasporic background—like myself—to connect with each other and communicate through creative expression. I hope that this can be a place where we can define the terms in which we wish to be seen and heard.

I was fortunate to be awarded Sunderland Culture’s 2021 Creative Development Fellowship, which enabled me to commission work from artists and writers as part of this publication. The project has evolved over time and now manifests in two forms: a physical publication and a digital VR exhibition that both presents and extends the ideas through multimedia works. 

The first edition of ‘Home Away from Home’ looks into the fluid notion of ‘home’ and narratives surrounding it—from frustrations to contentment, shared vulnerabilities to collective hopes. The publication brings together artworks and texts by five contributors who have made Britain their home. These individuals are Claudia Obag, Dovile Lapinskaite, Marga RH, Sofia Barton and myself.

Readers are invited to reflect on how the ideas raised might relate to their own experiences of belonging and their sense of home. Is ‘home’ defined by a location? Or is it defined by people? Is having a home a right? Or is it a privilege?

Christie Chan 

Christie is a curator, writer and visual artist born and raised in Hong Kong. She is the co-founder of Art Matters Now, a curatorial initiative based in Tyne and Wear. She studied Fine Arts at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and holds an MA in Art Museum and Gallery Studies from Newcastle University. Her writing has appeared in Corridor8 and Social Art Library. Her recent artwork was included in the BALTIC Open Submission exhibition at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

Claudia Obag 

Claudia is a visual artist based in the UK. She grew up in Barcelona, Spain, with Filipino roots. Her creative practice often draws upon her personal life experiences, presenting an honest point of view on themes and topics ranging from body positivity to housing crises. Through making art, she aims to capture what it means to be gentle and create pieces that spark joy and positivity.

Dovile Lapinskaite

Dovile is a Lithuanian artist and writer currently based in Newcastle, UK. She is a graduate of Goldsmiths College, University of London. Her fields of interest include LGBTQ+ archives, Queer diaspora, as well as exploration of passion and desire. Her creative practices address the issues of identity, gender and sexuality, which she explores via storytelling and zine making.

Marga RH 

Marga is a UK-based Latin American visual artist and campaigner on issues around migration, gender and reproductive justice. She has been involved in various creative projects that address these issues, and her body of work is closely linked to these experiences. She uses illustration as a means to channel everyday struggles, for personal therapy and self-care, and as a campaign tool.

Sofia Barton 

Sofia is a multidisciplinary artist from Newcastle. Her artworks are heavily influenced by nature and her Anglo-Indian heritage, capturing the landscape and beauty of North East England. A substantial portion of her oeuvre is inspired by matchboxes and other vintage objects, which she redesigns to reflect the rich influx of diverse cultures in modern society. Her work has been exhibited in the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Spilt Milk Gallery and Saatchi Gallery.

Christie Chan 陳雍希

Online

Home Away from Home is supported by Sunderland Culture’s Creative Development Fellowship 2021. The Sunderland Culture Creative Development Fellowship is offered as part of the Unlock the City programme which supports the development of artists and creative businesses in Sunderland. Unlock the City is delivered in partnership by Sunderland Culture, Sunderland City Council, Digital Catapult, North East BIC and Sunderland BME Network, with funding from Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Coastal Communities Fund.

Special thanks to Dr Sunshine Wong for offering her valuable input and editorial support to this project.