RESIDENT ALIEN
Psychogeographical Contemporary Jewellery Collection2019
National identity is something that's directly connected to our personal experiences and the decisions we make,
the roads we decide to take at certain points in our life.
— Miguel Zenon
The body of work explores the identity crisis and frustration faced by residents of Narva, Estonia—a border town where 90,000 people hold "ALIEN" passports. These documents emerged after the Soviet Union’s withdrawal in 1991 when a new border split the once-unified city along a river.
Many found themselves divided—living on one side but working on the other, or separated from family and friends. As a temporary fix, Estonia issued grey "ALIEN" passports, which remain valid today.
Many found themselves divided—living on one side but working on the other, or separated from family and friends. As a temporary fix, Estonia issued grey "ALIEN" passports, which remain valid today.
What does it mean to exist under a citizenship that isn’t fully yours?
Who are you when your own country refuses to claim you?
How do you define your identity when both sides of the border reject you?
CONTEXT
This work was developed during (Re)configuring Territories, an interdisciplinary research program for emerging architects, artists, designers, programmers, and urban planners
Structured around three overlapping workshops, each explored Narva from a different perspective and timescale. I participated in the "Theory, History, Poetry" workshop, led by Aiwen Yin
I hadn’t planned to create a jewelry collection—lacking silver, tools, or anything beyond what a simple bookshop could provide. Instead, every object in this collection was locally sourced using Psychogeography methods
‘In the thought-provoking Theory, History, Poetry Workshop led by interdisciplinary artist Yin Aiwen, five participants embarked on an immersive intellectual journey through Narva's layered past. The group engaged in a multifaceted exploration—walking through historical landscapes translated into poetic form, digesting theoretical perspectives on local history, and crafting nuanced poetry inspired by conceptual frameworks. Utilizing the methods of psychogeography as an artistic tool, they investigated how urban environments unconsciously direct emotions and behaviors, mapping the city's psychological impact alongside its physical terrain. Their methodology was deliberately varied and experiential, encompassing contemplative urban wandering, deep listening sessions, collective reading circles, thoughtful rumination, rich group conversations, and collaborative writing processes throughout the cityscape. As the culmination of this intensive creative research, the participants presented their work at the Narva Urban Lab in the form of an evocative exhibition, where their textual explorations materialized as innovative installations and compelling performances that invited viewers to reconsider the intersections of place, memory, and creative expression.’
— Trojan Horse Initiative
piece of wood from Hermann Castle
asphalt piece with engrained pebbles from Kreenholm Factory grounds
aluminium antenna
plastic mesh
sea-drenched pinecone
grey yarn
glue
paint
PIECE 1
PIECE 2
PIECE 3
‘IDENTITY DENYERS’
PIECE 4
‘HUG OF AMBIGUITY’“Psychogeography describes the effect of a geographical location on the emotions and behaviour of individuals“
The term was first coined by the theorist Guy Debord in 1955. This was his way of naming the playful and inventive ways of moving through the urban environment that seek to examine how spaces influence us.
I was first introduced to this concept in 2012 in Finland during EASA Wastelands, while taking part in the group Kuki Wonderland that explored Helsinki via the methods of psychogeography
During the daily walks in Narva, I'd gather objects that grabbed my attention and to which I felt emotionally and intrinsically connected to. Then, at the end of the week, I repurposed them into abstract jewellery pieces.
Each of the 4 final pieces represents a place in the city that is somehow relevant to the context of Narva and its identity ambiguity of its 'alien' residents.
These walks would result in daily writings of abstractly shaped thoughts.
Deriving from the keywords and phrases from these daily writings, I put together the pieces of jewellery as the materialization of written and spoken word into tangible objects.
INSTALLATION VIEW 1
@ NARVA URBAN LAB, ESTONIA
Narva Urban Lab explores urban processes and transformations in the context of Narva City.
The lab was initiated and hosted by Narva Art Residency
It took place on May 11th carrying the title “(Re)configuring Territories”
INSTALLATION VIEW 2
@ COOLTSALON, BULGARIA
Simultaneous Exhibition 2019: Sofia, Belgrade, London @MOVE.BG
On 18 May 2019, three cities explored together the idea of a shared space by taking part in Cooltsalon’s international collaboration project, which manifests in a one-day exhibition event, happening simultaneously across 3 time zones.
In times of political uncertainty across Europe and the UK, from unknown Brexit status to redefined borders, the 2019 edition explores “Shared Space”, as understood by creative practitioners around the world.
My work delved into sharing a space among two separate ideological countries - Russia and Estonia - and how this entangles its citizens into identity ambiguity.