Far From Home
To have, to lose, to find
In an age of unprecedented global mobility, home can feel closer than ever. A single flight or video call can instantly reconnect us with loved ones across the world. In this light, ‘coming home’ appears to be something we can summon at will, no matter where we are. But what happens when our home is taken from us—by conflict, crisis, or circumstance? Can we still find other ways to feel at home?
The virtual exhibition Far From Home brings together works spanning five centuries and multiple continents, revealing how the experience of displacement transcends time and geography. The exhibition traces a visual conversation across mediums. From early-modern Dutch painting to Depression-era photography and contemporary multi-media art, each generation utilizes the medium of their age to make sense of home and its loss. Pieter Claesz's meticulous still life celebrates the domestic abundance of the 17th-century Dutch Republic, while Dorothea Lange's documentary lens exposes how quickly such security can vanish during a crisis. But also through multidimensional objects the loss of the physical disappearance of the home is represented. Stucco reliefs by Michiel Anguierd represent the moment of tragedy, while Tsubaso Kato shows human efforts to rebuild whatever is lost and evidently Yinka Shonibare wonders of ways to escape the world’s daunting fate. The exhibition also examines technology's role in reshaping human connection, explored through multimedia works by Stromae and studio Moniker. Meanwhile, Mathilde μP and Regina Manyara invite reflection on future possibilities by weaving nostalgia into contemporary experience.
Together, these works illuminate the persistent human forces (political, environmental, technological) that continue to unsettle our sense of belonging. Home, that fundamental feeling of 'being at place', perhaps emerges most clearly when viewed through the lens of its absence. Yet these artists remind us that belonging can be rebuilt, reimagined, and rediscovered, not just in physical spaces, but in the act of creation itself.
Similar to the physical exhibition, begin your journey with Around the Kitchen Table, where personal ideas of home take shape. The exhibition unfolds through various themes of displacement across cultures, geographies, and time, ending with Traveling Through Time, which asks: what might we lose in the world as we know it? Browse the themes and artworks online to prepare for your visit, or experience the exhibition structure virtually, wherever you are. If you are visiting the exhibition on your phone, swipe left or right to navigate through the themes.
The clatter of cutlery, the smell of a burning moka pot, baked eggs or pancakes, steaming dishes, and juicy meats, best enjoyed in the company of loved ones, sharing stories and laughter. The kitchen table is often the heart of a home. Yet, what does ‘home’ evoke for some others, and you?
An emergency suitcase waits under the bed, ready to hold a life in moments of flight. Often linked to travel or adventure, the suitcase also symbolizes the forced departures of those displaced by war, political unrest, or crisis, when home is suddenly left behind, abandoned, destroyed, or taken away. What happens when the existence of your home is within the control of others?
Amid human conflict, nature reminds humanity of its one invincible opponent. Survival once meant resisting nature, now we realize that our survival depends on protecting it. When the balance breaks, where do we go? What becomes of us when we can no longer make amends with the natural world?
Rapid technological change has transformed the world beyond recognition, even from just years ago. As our lives shift, so does our sense of home, bringing nostalgia for childhood moments or old technologies such as a Nintendo DS. What familiar comforts might the future quietly replace?
Let our stories guide you through the exhibition in a way that fits your interests. Each artwork is thoughtfully placed within a curated storyline in relation to one another. Use the application to find their locations in the theme rooms and discover new insights by following the narrative during your visit or experience the storyline at home. If you are visiting the exhibition on your phone, swipe left or right to navigate through the themes.
The idea of home is not as simple as it may first appear. It can be formed, threatened and taken away in a multitude of ways. To understand home is to understand yourself and your place in the world. Dive into this story to see the ways you and home exist.
A highlight tour — a moment’s walk through of 10 works of memory and home.
Photography captures the materiality of fleeting moments, imbuing each image with inherent nostalgia. Unlike painting or sculpture, which unfold through extended creative processes, photographs freeze singular instants while simultaneously evoking what came before and after the shutter's click. Contemporary new media expand these temporal possibilities, creating dynamic parallels between past, present, and future. This narrative explores the power of the medium in the suggestion of time and transience.
Our team has collected a total of 20 items related to the theme of Far From Home.
Browse the full collectionCurious about this virtual exhibition? Far From Home is the result of a multimedia university project created for the Master’s program in Digital Humanities and Digital Knowledge at the University of Bologna (academic year 2024/25). In the top menu bar, the About section gives you access to our curatorial statement, design choices, and disclaimer. You can also learn more about the creators and get in touch with us through the About the Creators page.
Far From Home is a cross-cultural and period-spanning virtual experience. To help you emerge in different time periods, and for the sake of this digital project, we designed several layouts that you can choose from. Each layout is inspired by a different period and culture, and it will change the way you experience the exhibition. To learn more about our design choices and CSS script, visit the general purpose and design choices section.