Homes | Heimat:
Postcolonialism, Narratives, Photography

Communities are often metaphorized as social fabrics wherein individual biographies come together like threads to form a larger picture – a tapestry. Threads, that when plucked, hum their own narratives and come together to form ‘home.’ Yet, home is neither fixed, nor necessarily physical. Rather, it traverses the same geographies that we do. Thus, we ask, what images does ‘home’ invoke – fond memories, family albums, and even perhaps, common legacies of colonisation?

With recent calls for “Münster Postcolonial,” the imperial history of the city and the University have emerged in clearer focus. Yet, more comprehensive is the perspective of Post/colonial studies, which has, for long, concerned itself with processes of documentation, the concept of racialization and lived history. But what about "living" histories today? Particularly, how do we link the imperial past of a space with personal testimonies of colonisation that international students bring to Münster; and how do these stories re-articulate our notions of belonging, of our homeland? Guided by these far-reaching questions, we present our initiative "Homes | Heimat: Postcolonialism, Narratives, Photography".

• Update November 2024

  Impressions of the pilot exhibition in the meeting room of the English Seminar.

  

  

  

  Since its inception in May 2024, Homes | Heimat has sought to critically interrogate diverse conceptualizations of belonging, homeness, and post/coloniality. The pilot program, held from November 4–8, marked a significant milestone in these efforts. A central feature of the pilot was a citizen’s media installation that integrated transcribed storytelling sessions, family archive photographs, and creative artefacts. This installation fostered a dialogical space, bridging the lived experiences of migrant students with broader community narratives.

  The program commenced with a well-attended opening reception, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. Over subsequent days, the installation became a dynamic space hosting teach-ins, expressive arts sessions, guest lectures, and guided tours. These activities offered multi-modal entry points into discourses on cultural memory, migration, and identity, allowing attendees—particularly students of colour—to express and theorize the ongoing impacts of colonization on their experiences in Münster. Such moments of self-theorization are central to Homes | Heimat’s mission.

  The experiences of the pilot exhibition, the feedback from visitors and the discussions with the co-curators form the basis for the further development of the project. The result is expected to be presented in summer 2025.

• Update October 2024

  Pilot Exhibition at the English Seminar - ES 203
  November 4 - 8

  To commence the process of democratic knowledge generation, the project will host a pilot exhibition in from the 4th of November till the 8th of November. Although limited in capacity, the pilot phase aims to gather valuable feedback. The exhibition will take place at the English Seminar of the University of Münster, a department with a long tradition of research on migration, multiculturalism, community, kinship and postcolonial theory. Not only so, but the department also hosts one of the highest concentrations of international students at the University. This strategic location will facilitate the integration of diverse lived experiences and help tailor the project to meet the expectations of a broader community. To maximize participation, the pilot phase will be open to everyone at the university, allowing us to refine our approach and enhance the overall impact of the project. The purpose here is to emphasize what re/encounters make people experience, feel and do, rather than solely what they mean.

  Tentative Schedule (as of Oct. 28)

  Nov 4 - 18:00-20:00 - Opening of the pilot installation, followed by a light reception
  Nov 5 - 10:00-18:00 - Open for general visitations and feedback
  Nov 6 - 10:00-18:00 - Reserved for pedagogic use
  Nov 7 - 10:00-16:00 - Reserved for pedagogic use
  Nov 7 - 18:00-20:00 - Closing lecture
  Nov 8 - 10:00-14:00 - Open for general visitations and feedback

• Update - September 2024

  Where is home, or rather, what is it?

  This question has been the central concern of "Homes | Heimat" since its launch in May 2024. The call for participation surpassed our expectations, bringing together a group of eight students of colour, each contributing their family's historical photos and post/colonial narratives to help articulate a response to this inquiry.

  Over the past few months, we have conducting in-depth interviews with the students, capturing narrative that span diverse geographies, among them, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, the United States, Canada, Jordan, Trinidad & Tobago, Peru, Gambia and Senegal.  These personal stories convey lived perspectives on the notions of home and belonging—often complex, fluid, and intertwined with the legacies of colonisation and migration.

  Having completed both the interviews and their transcription, we have now entered the research and ideation phase. This phase is grounded in the framework of relational aesthetics, embodied participatory research, and post/colonial citizen science. We aim to remain fully participatory in our approach, continuously involving the interviewees as co-curators in this process. Accordingly, we have held consultations with each participant regarding the art installation, ensuring that their voices, lived experiences, and visions are central to its development. As the project progresses, these voices will help us re-articulate belonging, challenging traditional notions of Heimat, while acknowledging the city's colonial past and its relationship to the present.

  We look forward to continuing this collaborative journey and are excited to share the final installation in the near future!

• May 2024 - Call for contribution (closed)

  Participate in 'Homes | Heimat’ by contributing your family's historical photos and post/colonial narratives, and help us articulate ‘home.’

  Communities are often metaphorized as social fabrics wherein individual biographies come together like threads to form a larger picture – a tapestry. Threads, that when plucked, hum their own narratives and come together to form ‘home.’ Yet, home is neither fixed, nor necessarily physical. Rather, it traverses the same geographies that we do. Thus, we ask, what images does ‘home’ invoke – fond memories, family albums, and even perhaps, common legacies of colonisation?

  With recent calls for “Münster Postcolonial,” the imperial history of the city and the University have emerged in clearer focus. Yet, more comprehensive is the perspective of Post/colonial studies, which has, for long, concerned itself with processes of documentation, the concept of racialization and lived history. But what about "living" histories today? Particularly, how do we link the imperial past of a space with personal testimonies of colonisation that international students bring to Münster; and how do these stories re-articulate our notions of belonging, of our homeland? Guided by these far-reaching questions, we present our initiative "Homes | Heimat: Postcolonialism, Narratives, Photography".

  We invited students, staff and members of the University of Münster to participate in this initiative. Their involvement entailed engaging in an interview centered around the "oldest" images from their family archives. Through this conversation, we wish to learn about family history, inherited and shared experiences of post/colonization and different understandings of home. The interviews have been conducted in English by Yash Gupta, an international student of colour from India.

  The results are to be presented in an artistic installation accompanied by discursive events. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact us at kultur@uni-muenster.de.

   

• Concept

  John Agard's 1998 poem, "Remember the Ship" concludes with, “[A]nd citizenship shall be/a call/to kinship/that knows/no boundary/of skin (…)” Written with deep aspiration, the poem encourages us to rethink citizenships that go beyond the usual ties of nationality and borders. Instead, it proposes a bond grounded in shared emotions, relations, and movements. Traditionally, citizenship has been understood through a state-centred framework that defines individuals as members of a national polity based on rights and duties. However, this approach often neglects more complex post/colonial forms of belonging that emphasize emotional ties, interpersonal relationships, and movement.

  The limitations of legal frameworks are evident when addressing the diasporic experiences of migrants from post/colonial states, who frequently navigate inclusions/exclusions. Physically present, but politically excluded from full civic participation, they construct belonging in ways that challenge traditional definitions. Immigrants engage with what we may read as 'acts of citizenship,' through every day, personal acts that enable new expressions of civic identity. Instead of seeing citizenship as a contract solely between the individual and the state, Homes emphasizes the importance of recognizing how personal, relational, and seemingly mundane actions shape collective life.

• Project Overview

  "Homes | Heimat: Postcolonialism, Narratives, Photography" builds on these critical discussions, focusing on how students from migratory backgrounds at the University of Münster express stories of homes and belonging. Initiated in May 2024, the project applies Citizen Science, Decolonial Arts Practice, Embodied Storytelling, and Community Research to contribute to archives reflecting diverse, relational experiences. Significantly, "Homes | Heimat" highlights how concepts of belonging are evolving, shaped by the influence of transnational migration on both local and global scales. "Homes | Heimat" foregrounds these dynamics, emphasizing how migrant students and established communities navigate affective geographies to create alternative forms of belonging. Building on Askins’ (2016) concept of emotional citizenry, "Homes | Heimat" broadens the idea of citizenship by highlighting the interconnectedness of emotions and individual bodies in forming a collective political identity that moves beyond formal politics.

  Most importantly, "Homes | Heimat" compels us to confront differing proximities to colonisation. While imperial histories are often seen as remote or relegated to the past, for students from postcolonial contexts, these histories are recent, extending through the experiences of their grandparents and parents. A genuine shift toward postcolonial perspectives, therefore, requires integrating these genealogical memories into academic and social discourse, recognizing their continued relevance in shaping identities and belonging today.

  Guiding Questions

  1. How do family histories, migration, and visual storytelling shape fluid ideas of "home" and "belonging" for post/colonial-background students, and how do these personal narratives connect with Münster’s broader historical and cultural context?
  2. How can personal and collective memories shared by migrant students redefine emotional citizenship, and in what ways do these stories prompt discussions on post/colonial histories, racialization, and local connections? How does interaction between migrant and local communities shape integration in Germany?
  3. How can Citizen Science approaches be adapted to address the realities of 21st-century migration, forced displacement, and super-diversity? How might these methods inform practices within the University of Münster?

  Goals

  Through this initiative, we aim to align with the University of Münster’s Field of Action C (Cultivating a Respective, Inclusive Community) and Field of Action D (Assuming Social Responsibility). In line with the University’s mission statement, we view “diversity and equal opportunity as assets,” seeing diversity as a pathway to excellence in education and innovation.

  This research addresses vital issues related to integration, providing a platform for society to better understand how postcolonial histories affect feelings of belonging. Such insights are crucial for cultivating inclusive communities where diversity is perceived as a resource rather than a challenge. By facilitating discussions around these themes, the initiative contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of belonging and the importance of recognizing the active roles migrants play in shaping societal landscapes.

• Process

  Given the complex topics it examines, "Homes | Heimat" employs a diverse research design combining citizen science, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and decolonial arts methods. The project functions as a citizen science and media initiative that highlights the migration stories of students from post/colonial contexts.

  This is accomplished through varied outputs, including publications, community lectures, and a bilingual citizen media installation. The installation, which features transcribed storytelling sessions, family photographs, and creative works, is designed to provide Münster residents insight into the personal narratives of migrant students. In crafting this installation, "Homes | Heimat" utilizes CBPR and interview-based embodied storytelling (IBES) methods to build collaborative, reflective spaces where participants’ lived experiences are expressed and contextualized.

  "Homes | Heimat" commenced in May 2024 with an open call for participation extended to students, staff, and community members at the University of Münster. Participants were invited to share stories centered around the oldest image from their family archives, which served as primary data sources for the project. The response surpassed expectations, involving eight students from diverse geographical backgrounds, including India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, the United States, Canada, Jordan, Trinidad & Tobago, Peru, Gambia, and Senegal.

  The storytelling sessions comprised extended one-on-one conversations with eight co-curators, facilitated by Yash Gupta, an international student at the English Seminar. These semi-structured interviews lasted between two to three hours, allowing for both guided inquiry and the flexibility to explore participants' stories more organically. To deepen the exploration of emerging themes, several smaller follow-up sessions were conducted. All data collection rounds were held in English to ensure accessibility, and participants had open channels to communicate with the lead curator and citizen scientist at any point during the project. After the initial interviews, recordings were transcribed and translated into German. A critical aspect of this process was returning the transcripts to the interviewees, giving them the chance to retract any information they considered too personal or sensitive. The finalized transcripts then served as catalysts for discussions regarding the development of a citizens’ media installation.

  Ethical Overview

  The ethical framework of "Homes | Heimat" builds on the principle of respect for persons as outlined in the Belmont report of 1979. Hence, before the initiation of the data collection phase, all the interviewees were informed of the scope of the project, their rights as participants, their capacity to withdraw at any given moment, along with the data management strategies employed. The interview and storytelling sessions were preceded by the acquisition of recorded informed consent, ensuring complete transparency regarding the use of collected information. Participants continue to retain ownership over their narratives and photographs throughout the process.

• Team

  "Homes | Heimat" maintains a fully participatory approach, with interviewees also assuming the role of co-curators throughout the process. "Homes | Heimat" operates within a framework of flat hierarchies, where ‘citizen scientists’ and ‘participants’ collaboratively generate and interpret data, oversee project management, and make decisions regarding core project components. The lead curator’s responsibility is to synthesize future directions and facilitate dialogue among co-curators.

  "Homes | Heimat" functions through the contributions of several co-curators, with equitable distribution of roles. The members and their roles are listed herein (certain names have been omitted from this list in accordance with the wishes of the members):

  Yash Gupta, Lead Curator and Chief Investigator
  Yahia AlSallaq, Co-curator, and Assistant
  Thais Diaz Barrantes Moli, Co-curator
  Maliha Akram Samin, Co-curator
  Alia  El-Wakil, Co-curator
  Fahima Farkhari, Co-curator
  Evra J.A., Co-curator
  Ramatoulaye Jamilah Sow, Co-curator
  Sundus Ihsan Khan, Co-curator

  Along with the co-curators, the initiative is shaped by the scientific expertise of:

  Prof. Dr. Mark U. Stein, Chair of English, Postcolonial and Media Studies, Universität Münster
  Dr. Eckhard Kluth, Head, Zentrale Kustodie und Kulturbüro der Universität Münster
  Dr. Felipe Espinoza Garrido, Lecturer, Englisches Seminar, Universität Münster