En Route

En Route is a series of staged photographs of my personal exploration of the gap between an ideal life and my reality. I used to think my life would have a clear path leading to a stable and meaningful future. As I approach my thirties, I am still at a loss, without a compass, wandering and searching for a sense of “home” – my sense of “home”. These staged images created these moments of uncertainty: showing the temporary spaces that a young woman occupies, denoted by the suitcase that is always there in the corner, and contextualized by the contrasts between the material that she is given and that she could afford. I equate making my own home with a sense of belonging and fulfilling my own sense of purpose. But I often ask myself: Is it possible to find a home we can call our own? Can we find our place in this ever-changing world? Is finding "home" achievable, or is it just an illusion created by the culture we consume? Do we spend our whole lives seeking something we are never able to grasp? If finding our home is an intangible idea, does that mean that the transition itself is the norm? This collection is my attempt to capture the state of being adrift in the face of the unknown, reflecting what we might all experience in adulthood as we face the restless struggle to search for direction and meaning in life.