HOMELAND (2022-23)

'Homeland' is a body of work addressing themes of political identity, belonging, memory and representation among migrant communities in West Bromwich and Hyson Green, with a specific focus, but not limited to, Polish migrant communities. The exhibition and photobook emerged as a result of Paulina’s 18-month artist residency at Centrala Space in Birmingham.

Throughout the residency, Korobkiewicz established relationships with members of the migrant communities, initiating dialogues and participating in local celebrations and events, researching and creating a contemporary portrait of those places. 'Homeland' focuses on the visibility of the communities, examining how migrants have influenced the urban landscape while also contributing to and interacting with these diverse communities in their current homes. The photographs depict the people, the geometries and shapes of these multicultural towns, the fusion of nostalgia for home, and the present memories, realities and connections. 

Korobkiewicz’s residency contributed to the broader research project 'Post-Socialist Britain?: Memory, Representation, and Political Identity amongst German, Polish, and Ukrainian Immigrants in the UK', initiated by University of Birmingham and Nottingham Trent University, funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council. Paulina observed a series of photography workshops used as a research method to give migrants a platform to share their experiences through photography. She collaborated with some of the participants and recorded video interviews which were on display during the exhibition.

Accompanying Paulina’s work, 'Homeland' exhibition and photobook also includes photographic projects from Sylwia Ciszewska-Peciak, Yuxi Hou, Ismail Khokon, and Marcin Forys, participants of the Central European Photography Club, with whom she worked closely during her residency, through mentoring and sharing experiences. The exhibition was curated by Rafailia Thiraiou.