Examining my Hainanese cultural and genealogical roots through the concept of place attachment using artefacts
"From Routes to Roots" draws inspiration from a collection of resurfaced mementos, unraveling the enigmatic identity of my late grandfather. As I embark on my inaugural journey to Hainan in pursuit of my grandfather's hometown, this project endeavours to investigate and document the narrative connection between my cultural and genealogical roots as a Hainanese, employing the concept of place attachment through artefacts.
Additionally, "From Routes to Roots" aims to pique the audience's curiosity, encouraging them to embark on a similar journey to explore their roots. Through this process, it is hoped that individuals may discover something new about themselves.
ROLE
Editorial Designer, Installation Artist & Photographer
CLIENT
Final Year Project, NTU, School of Arts, Design & Media
TIMELINE
2017
PRINTER
Allegro Print
My first location brought me to Xia Po Village, Wan Quan Country, Quan Hai City, Hainan, China in search of my long-lost aunt, Lee Xue Ya
First glance of her house in Xia Po Village - A traditional tile-roofed house
Lee Xue Ya, my long-lost aunt who was born and raised in Hainan, China. She was the first-born to my late grandfather and second-grandmother (grandfather's first wife) before they relocated to Singapore in the early 1940s.
My uncle and cousin (Aunt Xue Ya's husband and youngest son) seated in the dated living room
The courtyard between Aunt Xue Ya's and her son's house
Arriving at my late grandfather's hometown - Xi He Village, Wan Quan County, Qiong Hai City, Hainan, China
The exterior of our ancestral hall building
A warm welcome by my distant relatives
Distant cousins flipping through the 'Lee' family's genealogy book (族谱) to find our lineage records
Our family's lineage records tracing back to our great great grandfather
My graduation show exhibit featuring a mix medium of mementos, photographs, installation art and editorial
Rope, which was inspired by my grandfather's profession as a sailor, was crafted into a tree bearing the many generations of 'Lee'
The roots of the tree were made by cement-casted feet of me and my relatives to signify our family being rooted in Singapore yet striving in our own paths
The feet were casted individually and labelled accordingly
The modern day 'Lee' family genealogy book which recorded our generational stories from past till present
The wooden cut-out pieces is a deconstruction of strokes from the chinese charater of our family name. 'Lee'
A pocket consisting custom postcards and a Hainan root seeking map with all necessary travel details
Introduction to the book
Replicated mementos included in-between the pages
An illustrated map of my grandfather's residence in Xi He Village, Wan Quan County, Qiong Hai City, Hainan, China
The updated records of our family lineage
A juxtaposition of the past and present of our family
Like what you see? Let's create something remarkable together.