Recollection

In contemporary society, systemic inequalities and social stigmas continue to shape public perception, often reducing complex social issues to singular narratives.

Homelessness is often framed as a simple condition of lacking shelter, but it is an intricate social issue – what scholars term a wicked problem – intertwined with economic, psychological and cultural dimensions. Studies show that homelessness involves more than the absence of a home; individuals experiencing it often lose their sense of identity, self-worth and self-efficacy (Buckner, Bassuk & Zima, 1993). Furthermore, homelessness frequently becomes a person’s primary social identity, overshadowing their individuality and reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

This project seeks to challenge those reductive perceptions by exploring identity loss through the lens of objects and possessions. Personal and sentimental objects can serve as intimate markers of identity, resisting the erasure imposed by societal preconceptions. By presenting these objects alongside interviews, we aim to disrupt fixed notions of what it means to be ‘homeless’ and instead restore visibility to the complex, multifaceted identities of those affected.