Stories

The heart of homesickness

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Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up archive material which includes, vintage photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a man on the right hand side with his head resting on his hand. Forming a headdress on his head are pictures of a bed, two dogs, a house, flowers and an elderly man and woman. These elements are repeated on the left hand side much larger. In between the two sides is a rural and city skyline merged together. It the sky is an aeroplane and the planet Saturn and a large colourful bird in flight carrying a heart in its beak.
The complex longing for home. © Maria Rivans for Wellcome Collection.

Taking in epidemics of nostalgia in the 18th century, NASA scientists looking at homesick astronauts, and generations of homesickness in refugee camps, travel writer Gail Tolley considers why home – and leaving it – is a far more complex experience than is often understood. Inspired by her childhood experience of homesickness, she argues that the condition is being felt particularly acutely in the 21st century, and looks for ways of relieving some of its symptoms.

Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up archive material which includes, vintage photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a man on the right hand side with his head resting on his hand. Forming a headdress on his head are pictures of a bed, two dogs, a house, flowers and an elderly man and woman. These elements are repeated on the left hand side much larger. In between the two sides is a rural and city skyline merged together. It the sky is an aeroplane and the planet Saturn and a large colourful bird in flight carrying a heart in its beak.
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Part1
The complex longing for home

It could be mild, an almost poetic longing. Or it could be visceral, deep, an overwhelming feeling that eats into your everyday life. Come with Gail Tolley as she introduces a deep dive into homesickness.

Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up archive material which includes, vintage photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a scene with an urban and rural combined background, where high snow covered mountain peaks rise in the distance. In the middle distance a Scottish piper stands on the hillside playing bagpipes, a lion stands on top of a cluster of large glass and metal skyscrapers and a tall ship in full sail crosses a section of ocean. In the foreground on the left is the head of a man who looks a little like an explorer with a rope over his shoulder and a hat on his head. A tear falls from his eye. Next to him stands a group of doctors all wearing white knee length lab coats. Next to them are a couple of suitcases over which a tiger is crawling. To the far right a group of french revolutionary soldiers surge forward with a tattered flag. In the sky is an aeroplane and the planet Earth.
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Part2
The hidden history of homesickness

Gail Tolley delves into the history of homesickness and discovers that its rich past holds a clue to how we view the experience today.

Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up of archive material which includes vintage photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a scene with an urban and rural combined background, where high chimneys billowing smoke and skyscrapers rise in the distance. In the middle distance an are tall palm trees and an expanse of water with a small boat. In the foreground on the left is a lion on his hind legs, mouth open in a roar. Behind and to the right of the lion is a large blue hardback book. On the cover is the figure of a naked man with his arms outstretched above his head. Branches grow out of his arms, torso and legs and roots grow out of his feet. Next to the book is an empty artist's easel with a stretched canvas leaning against it. In the centre of the image a man in a shirt and tie sits cross legged with a notebook on his lap, looking to one side. A tear falls down his right cheek. He is leaning against a large bottle with the word 'alcohol' written on its label. To the far right are a couple of suitcases, one is open with a red heart inside, the other has a building floor plan drawn on its lid. In the blue sky on the right is a helicopter and on the left, a moon like orb.
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Part3
How homesickness inspires art

Gail Tolley looks at homesickness through the eyes of three contemporary artists and finds powerful new themes of identity and connection.

Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up of archive material which includes vintage and contemporary photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a scene with an urban and rural combined background, where high mountains and hills rise in the distance. In the middle distance are a series of tall trees and a jail like structure with bars. On top of the jail stands a large leopard looking up to the sky. In front of the jail are several large agave plants. Seated amongst them are three young children, smiling. To the right of the children is a large gold covered bed with a large gold nugget on top. At the foot of the bed are 2 more golden nuggets. Siting on the headboard is a colourful parrot in red, blue and orange. To the right of the parrot is a modern glass building with a long pathway leading up to the entrance. In the foreground on the left side of the image is a woman wearing a pattered dress and knitted to crocheted hat. Beside her is a large handbag. In her hand she is holding a biro and a piece of paper. She is looking away into the distant hills with a tear rolling down her right cheek. In the cloud scattered sky above are 3 parrots in flight and a large moon like orb. A blue bird sits in a high tree on the right, a pink heart shape in its mouth.
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Part4
When you can’t return home

Migrants and refugees cannot choose to return home, so homesickness becomes a profound and long-lasting feeling. This powerful force infuses migrant cultures, and is rarely given the serious attention it warrants.

Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up of archive material which includes vintage and contemporary photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a scene with elements of outer space. In the background is a dark starry sky with a small red planet and a large blue and green planet Earth rising over horizon. In the middle distance on the left hand side are tall thin volcanic like mountain peaks and a space rocket in take off with jets of fire and smoke. In the centre is green foliage next to an expanse of lake-like water. In the foreground on the right hand side is a lone astronaut looking out across the water towards the rising Earth. At the feet of the astronauts are a couple of food cans, one with the words 'Powdered whole milk, Nura' written on the side. On top of this can is a molecular representation of the Covid-19 virus. In the foreground to the left a woman is sat at a kitchen table with her back to the viewer. On the table is a loaf of sliced bread, bowls of cereal, two glasses of milk, a bowl of fruit and very small astronaut.
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Part5
Homesick for planet Earth

Find out how homesick astronauts spend their free time, and how recreating home cooking from freeze-dried ingredients can cheer them all up.

Artwork using collage. The collaged elements are made up of archive material which includes vintage and contemporary photographs, etchings, painted illustrations, lithographic prints and line drawings. This artwork depicts a scene from a costal landscape. To the right of the image a large figure of a man wearing a suit and tie rests his head on his right hand, while holding a letter in his left. He stares across the frame to the left. Behind him the background is an expanse of ocean which meets a sandy shoreline. At sea can be seen stormy weather with tornadoes, and dark clouds. On the shoreline trees rise up into snow capped mountains. The silhouette of a small figure stands of the mountain looking out to sea. Also peppering the shore are a rotary telephone, a telegraph pole and a small wooden house. In the water is a large whirlpool with a tall ship disappearing into the depths. Along the foreground are an open refrigerator containing food and an old computer screen. On the screen is a repetition of this collage. In the sky above the scene are an airliner in flight, a blue Saturn-like planet, an astronaut on a space walk, a rainbow and a sunset.
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Part6
Finding a cure for homesickness

While technology can mitigate some aspects of homesickness, other components of home are harder to replicate. Find out how 21st-century studies are helping homesickness sufferers find silver linings in their new situation.

About the contributors

Photograph of Gail Tolley

Gail Tolley

Author

Gail Tolley is a travel and culture writer based in Edinburgh. She has twice been the editor of popular culture magazines: Time Out London (2017–19) and The List (2012–14). She has contributed to National Geographic Traveller, the Independent and BBC Radio 4. Alongside working as a freelance writer and broadcaster, she also works in TV development.

Photograph of Maria Rivans

Maria Rivans

Artist
mariarivans.com
@mariarivans on Instagram

Maria Rivans is a contemporary British artist known for her Surrealism-meets-Pop-Art aesthetic. With its unique approach to collaging, her artwork intertwines fragments of vintage ephemera, often with reference to film and TV, to spin bizarre and dreamlike tales. She exhibits work throughout the UK as well as internationally, including Hong Kong, New York and across Europe. Notable solo shows include the Saatchi Gallery, London and Galerie Bhak, Seoul.