This project explores themes of family, identity, and cultural belonging through the act of mending. Growing up, I never felt a strong connection to my father. His work often kept him away, leaving my mother to shoulder the responsibilities of raising me. I can only imagine how challenging it was for her, especially during the years we lived in Hungary—a foreign country for her, far from her support network.

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This experience of growing up in Hungary, surrounded by a mix of cultures, may have influenced my sense of cultural identity. The Dutch culture, though technically my own, has always felt distant. Even after living in the Netherlands for most of my life, I’ve struggled to feel at home here.

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To explore and address these feelings, I began mending my father’s handkerchiefs—objects he has used for as long as I can remember. Through this process, I aim not only to restore the physical fabric but also to metaphorically repair and strengthen my connection to him. The act of mending becomes a symbol of reconciliation, bridging the emotional and cultural gaps that have shaped my identity.

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This project is deeply personal yet universal, inviting reflection on the ways we navigate relationships, heritage, and belonging. By engaging in a tactile, intimate process like mending, I seek to find threads of connection—not just to my father, but also to the culture that has always felt out of reach.