A study of the identity of a place through people’s experiences

Abstract

This study examines the identity of a place through the experiences of the people living in it. It investigates the life of the people living in a close community and observes the impact the village has on their identity and vice versa. It presents the main characteristics that make up the identity of Xewkija, most specifically the strong bond found in this community. The research included three in-depth interviews with three people found sitting on public benches in the village. The purpose of these interviews was to engage with their experiences and feel at close quarters the influence the village had left on them and how they themselves were leaving their mark on the village. Thus, the physical project focuses primarily on the personal experiences of these three people and attempts to represent this phenomenon in an artwork. The final installation is in the form of a public bench and this is to be placed in a public garden where it could be appreciated by the villagers of Xewkija. The bond among them will not only be shown in the aesthetics of the bench but also by being put to functional use; in other words, villagers may not only enjoy its looks but also peruse its comfort and maybe extend their experiences of being Xewkija villagers.