An Iranian photographer has embarked on a unique artistic journey, staying in the homes of complete strangers across England and Wales to document her personal experience of migration and belonging. Mana Baoosh, who moved to Bristol six years ago, created the photography series "We Are More Than Strangers" as a way to cope with homesickness, anxiety, and depression while preserving memories of human connection.
Baoosh, currently pursuing a photography Master's degree at the University of the West of England (UWE), realized she was experiencing memory loss around specific periods of her life due to mental health struggles. "When the pandemic began I was already feeling homesick, but the travel restrictions made it impossible to return home, which intensified those feelings," she explained. "As time went on, I faced many other challenges - ups and downs that eventually led to depression and anxiety, deeply affecting my life."
The project involves Baoosh staying with volunteer hosts for several days at a time, during which she sets up a camera on a tripod in a corner of a room chosen by the host family. This intimate approach allows her to capture authentic moments of daily life while creating new memories to replace those she had lost. "There came a point when I realized I was struggling to recall certain periods of my past and it felt as though I was experiencing memory loss around specific moments of my life," Baoosh shared.
More than 30 people from England and Wales have participated in the photography series so far, with Baoosh describing how all of her hosts have become genuine friends. The project represents her desire to "remember how it feels to belong somewhere," driven by a determination to avoid further memory loss and preserve meaningful connections moving forward.
One participant, 62-year-old Sian Trenberth from Cardiff, described how the experience deepened her friendship with Baoosh while making her reflect on the challenges of migration. "In her body of work, some of her subjects were new to Britain - I've always lived in the same place," Trenberth said. "It did make me think about what it is like to leave your country and live somewhere completely different and what that might mean. Since this project she's become a friend - that's a very special thing."
Baoosh plans to continue the "We Are More Than Strangers" series until she has documented stays with 50 participants total. Once completed, she intends to exhibit the entire collection in Bristol and Wales, sharing her artistic exploration of migration, memory, and the universal human need for belonging with a wider audience.
