An Homage to Solitude

An Homage to Solitude is a research-based design project focussing on reconnecting with our active choice for solitude. Unlike loneliness, which refers to an undesired sense of aloneness, solitude describes a pleasant and often intentional state of being alone. In today's Western context, hyper-connectivity, fast-paced rhythms and constant availability are part of societal norms. While the pressure to perform, have success, and take care of the people and places around us has always existed, the act of withdrawing has become increasingly rare. It's not only about the others' expectations of us being reachable and available at all times, it is also our own fear of getting lost. We've come to associate being connected with being relevant, productive, or even loved – making solitude a conflicting practice, one this exhibition advocates for to reclaim.

These walls show a selection of objects that are curated to suggest the daily practice of solitude. Rather than introducing solitude as a new, possibly overwhelming concept, these pieces highlight the simplicity of it in the context of daily-life rituals and activities. All objects have personal stories to them, derived from a 3-week experiment with 17 individuals. The research concluded with conversations between the participant and researcher, where these narratives were shared and from which 10 facets of solitude were formulated. These are represented by colour codes displayed on the walls. All visitors are invited to assemble their own solitude artefact, as an encouragement of creating your personal homage to solitude.