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Luke Mitchell's avatar

As someone born in Australia, educated at US universities, living in London and currently plotting retirement in France, this really resonates with me. I want little pieces of all of these places to be my whole.

Kay Fabella's avatar

"I want little pieces of all of these places to be my whole." --> That's the line right there. You said it more precisely than I did, Luke. Also appreciate how intentional you are about bringing all of those places with you.

Luke Mitchell's avatar

I appreciated your long-form approach 😊 much more nuance.

Dave Paquiot's avatar

You know as I get out I believe that we don’t carry places with us as much as we carry versions of ourselves that only existed there.

That’s why returning can feel so strange.

The city still exists.

You still exist.

But the intersection between the two is gone.

This piece captures that feeling and reality succinctly

Susie Chow | Sambal House's avatar

Couldn't agree more! Well said and beautifully written, Kay. 🫶🏽

Kay Fabella's avatar

Ah I appreciate that, Susie! Thank you for reading.

Cecile Pauty's avatar

Hi Kay, I'm also really interested in the relationship between place and time, the longing for old places, and the feelings that arise when you go back "there" but it's not the same, or you're not the same. If you're interested in modern art there is a Korean artist called Do Ho Suh who creates installations about what you describe, how the places still live within us after we've left, his work is so powerful

Kay Fabella's avatar

I didn't know Do Ho Suh's work, Cecile, I just looked him up and I can see exactly why you connected it to this. The installations that reconstruct rooms from memory, the idea that space is something you carry in your body... what a beautiful physical representation of that chronic liminality I write about here. Thank you for sharing!

Anna Luiza Boide's avatar

This touches me so deeply… I lived in quite a few different countries and you couldn’t have expressed it better

Kay Fabella's avatar

Yes! That’s the thread I was trying to hold, Anna Luiza... not just the leaving, but the way certain places keep occupying us in quieter ways. Thank you for saying that and sharing that it resonated, it means a lot :).

Stacy Ennis's avatar

So well said. <3

Kay Fabella's avatar

So glad it resonated with you :)