This project explores the emotional weight of leaving a place that feels like home and the deep longing that follows. Whenever I leave Poland, I am overcome with a sense of loss, as though a part of me is left behind. Returning to Rotterdam is bittersweet, especially in the first week, when the longing to return to Poland is most intense.

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Poland holds a profound significance in my life. It’s not just a country—it’s a place filled with family, heritage, and a sense of belonging. My mother’s Polish roots tie me closely to this land, and spending time with my family there reinforces feelings of love and safety, even when those emotions are not always overtly expressed. Each visit reconnects me to my identity and provides a sense of comfort that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

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Yet, this connection comes with its challenges. The cycle of traveling back and forth between Poland and the Netherlands is emotionally draining. Leaving Poland feels like severing a piece of myself, while staying away too long leaves me feeling disconnected and incomplete. It is a constant push and pull, a balance between two worlds, neither of which feels fully whole without the other.

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Through this project, I aim to embody these emotions—the longing, love, and complexity of being tied to two places. The work reflects the powerful connection I feel to Poland and my family while grappling with the emotional toll of separation. By visualizing this inner conflict, the project captures the universal experience of being torn between two homes, two identities, and two parts of oneself.

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Ultimately, this project is a tribute to the enduring ties that bind us to places and people we love. It invites viewers to reflect on their own connections to home and the way distance, memory, and longing shape our understanding of belonging.