Sensing the Continuity and Strangeness of the ‘Home’ in the Darkness of a New Residence

The experience of déjà vu and the unheimlich, a peculiar fusion of familiarity and unfamiliarity, is closely linked to what was once very familiar. Delving into the unheimlich to illuminate my exploration of the continuity of ‘home’, I contend that a sense of ‘home’ endures by seeking familiarity through everyday objects, placing them similarly, or recreating past room layouts in unfamiliar spaces. Examining my series of drawings, The Darkness (2020–2021), crafted during the global covid lockdown amid my transition to a new living-place, I illustrate the evolution of my ‘home’ from an unfamiliar, empty space to a familiar haven filled with items evoking a sense of dwelling. These drawings depict both mental and physical aspects of adapting to a new residence, emphasising the nocturnal arrangement of objects. In the shroud of darkness, the familiarity painstakingly accrued throughout the day dissipates, forming a nuanced interplay of familiarity and strangeness that elicits feelings of both comfort and discomfort. Such an amalgamation creates an unsettling, yet homely atmosphere. Interrogating the relationships between objects and their ties to the concept of ‘home’ becomes a lens through which I investigate the unheimlich, offering a unique perspective for ongoing exploration.