Belonging without Borders:
Qi Lei
In today’s globally connected world, the traditional idea of home — as a fixed place tied to family, culture, and
stability — is being redefined. Home isn’t one location anymore, but something more fluid. This thesis explores how a
meaningful sense of home can be built through values, relationships, and experiences that stay consistent even as the
environment changes. It looks at how emotional and spiritual grounding can offer stability, identity, and belonging in a
life shaped by constant movement.
Personal Website: www.behance.net/joyceqilei
Material testing and preparations for Thesis Installation
Fabrics and burnt paper are the main testing materials. Fabrics evoke tactile and emotional associations with safety, comfort, and nostalgia. They are deeply connected to childhood memories, family homes, and cherished objects, making them a powerful medium for exploring the emotional dimensions of "home." Burnt paper, with its aged and textured aesthetic, symbolizes the fragmentation and abstraction of memory. Its layered, imperfect quality mirrors the ways in which memories of home can feel distant or incomplete, especially for those navigating unfamiliar spaces.
Installation in studio
To imbue the project with a sense of organic continuity, I intertwined folded strips of burnt paper, creating vine-like patterns that concealed the underlying structure. These patterns evoked a sense of growth, resilience, and connection to nature, highlighting the role of the natural world in fostering a sense of "home." Ginkgo leaves were incorporated as a tangible reminder of continuity amidst change. These leaves hold personal significance, not only because they were a familiar sight near my childhood home but also because I encountered them in many of the places I’ve visited.
Installation in studio
The installation reveals different shapes when viewed from various angles. Though the shifting forms created by these random viewing perspectives are unintentional, they reinforce the concept of nature’s unpredictable and ever-growing power.
Final Installation on exhibition
Additional visual elements related to travel, such as airplane tickets, are attached to the back of my installation to strengthen its connection to the theme of travel and make it more relatable for viewers.
Original Travel Journal before Riso Printing
I created a travel journal by collaging photos I took in Boston, featuring scenes of nature and places with personal meaning. One of them is the university I attended, which was the reason I came to Boston. These elements express the strong impression the city left on me and my deep emotional connection toit.
Packed Thesis Books
My thesis book design will be displayed in a pack with the riso version of the book and a small envelope with two riso printed cards inside.
Thesis Book Covers
The cover of the book is designed to resemble a postcard, featuring the text 'From Joyce (my name), To Somebody' with a blank line for the recipient's name. By adding their name, the viewer can experience the book as a personal gift from me.
Thesis Book Inner Pages
My thesis book is produced in three risograph print versions, each with a different number of colors: one-color, two-color, and three-color editions. The book is divided into two sections, each featuring its own unique set of front and back cover designs.
Postcard Attached to Thesis Book
The risograph postcard features natural elements as visual motifs, serving as a complementary expression of the themes explored in my thesis.