Searching For Home - An exhibition by Studio 11

What does "home" really mean to you? It’s far more than just a roof over our heads; it’s an intimate sanctuary and an anchor for our identity. It is where our earliest memories, relationships, and true sense of self take shape. In his striking debut exhibition, ‘Searching for Home’, artist Noah Mulubrhan dives deep into this raw emotional landscape, inviting us to reflect on how the physical and remembered places we inhabit fundamentally mold who we are.

To capture these intricate feelings, Noah turns to unexpected mediums. He combines Celastic (a rigid material traditionally used in shoemaking to hold structural form) with delicate layers of tissue paper mounted on wood panels. Through this unique interplay of strength and fragility, he gives tangible life to the complex, often unseen emotions tied to belonging.

Look closely at the painted figures; some clutch their heads or wrap their arms around themselves, capturing a touching dual posture of self-soothing and a desire to shrink away unnoticed. Woven across the surfaces are subtle, poetic symbols of longing: compasses pointing toward a loss of direction, delicate handwritten fragments from cherished letters, and sunflowers reaching outward; reminding us of the enduring hope that persists even in uncertain times.

Of course, what home means to us is never static. As we step out into the world leaving our childhood homes, sharing spaces with roommates, starting families, or putting down roots in a new city our sense of independence continuously evolves. Through this evocative body of work, Noah gently prompts us to ask ourselves: Which spaces have truly made us who we are? Who are the people who make us feel instantly at ease?

These portraits at Studio 11 remind us that home is ultimately an emotional heartland; one that provides grounding stability, but can also leave a profound longing when displaced or left behind.

When the familiar fades from reach, what remains inside us? Noah’s art offers a compassionate space to explore it, inspiring us to walk away with a deeper appreciation for our own journeys and a gentler understanding for anyone still searching for a place to call home.

You can find more information about the current exhibition and the artworks on display on the studio 11 website.