HIRAETH

HIRAETH (Here-ITh) is a Welsh word with no direct English translation; at best, it is the deep longing for one’s home—a gut-wrenching homesickness. 

This project explores the comfort I find in the familiarity of power lines and how that reflects on my relationship with my hometown, through the use of landscapes and close-up digital photographs, linoleum relief block prints, and polaroid photos.

When I see power lines, I am filled with a nostalgic feeling that reminds me of my hometown. I find them to be beautifully messy and chaotic, which is what draws me to them. I use digital photographs as inspiration for the block prints that isolate the power lines from their environment to emphasize their structure. The nostalgia I get is represented by the Polaroids taken in my hometown; these capture places I saw throughout my life growing up. Through this series, I explore my fascination with the intricate structure of power lines and personal memories within my hometown.