Place of Estrangement

The Place of Estrangement is a mental state of isolation and alienation in which immigrant mothers find themselves in new country between past and present.

"Why does the image of God take a male form? A woman is closer to God; she creates life."

This project documents immigrant mothers and their journeys as they adjust to their new homes in New York City.

Being an immigrant mother myself, I found immigration and the process of adjusting to life in the USA to be among the most traumatic and transformative experiences—and, in many ways, the most invisible.

This project documents two immigrant mothers, Nataliia and Swati. Nataliia arrived from Mykolaiv, Ukraine 8 years ago, while Swati arrived from Mumbai, India, more than 2 years ago. Both came with their respective families. I explore the sense of distance and sacrifice that unites them, as well as their personal experiences in a new and foreign environment. Their stories are connected by experiences of loneliness and isolation within their families, among friends, and in society. When they seek escape from their loneliness, the avoidance becomes another trap.

The initial concept of the project is based on the idea of “healing places”—spaces where women feel safe, can be their true selves, and are free from any kind of pressure. By exploring locations, rituals, and routines, the project creates space for women to reimagine their genuine dreams and desires. It seeks to make visible the emotional landscapes of immigrant women, highlight the beauty, burden, complexity and love that is in their everyday life. It asks what it means to create a new home in an unfamiliar environment while trying not to lose themself.