Artist Statement
The theme of Exile and Return is profoundly moving, especially as its resonances the lived experiences of those who endured the Nazi occupation during World War II. It captures the poignant tension between the pain of leaving one's homeland and the enduring yearning to return—seeking to reclaim identity, heritage, and a sense of belonging.
By intertwining historical context with creative interpretation, this theme holds the power to both honour the resilience of those who faced unimaginable trials and to evoke reflection on universal human experiences of loss, survival, and the quest for home. It sheds light on the struggles of displacement and the emotional complexities of returning to a homeland forever altered by the Nazis, time and trauma.
My interpretation of the theme will be conveyed through the medium of photography. This creative process will reimagine the emotions of the refugees from Guernsey as they faced the looming threat of invasion by a dark, menacing force. Furthermore, I aim to capture how they must have felt upon their return after many years, confronting the stark and shocking landscapes left in the wake of the Nazi occupation.
By using the natural landscape, I will explore the complex emotions that these returning exiles likely experienced—seeing their once-beautiful island now irreversibly altered. Today, 80 years later, we often take these changes for granted, but they remain a significant part of Guernsey's current landscape.
