How does a lack of national sense of belonging influence a person?

This work examines the intersection of personal and national identity through the lens of the traditional dress. Rooted in the artist’s experience of migrating from Romania to Austria at the age of six, the project reflects on the emotional complexity of adapting to multiple cultures at a young age and its impact on one’s sense of belonging. Drawing on historical and theoretical research, themes such as traditionalism, identity, and cultural affiliation are explored through the symbolic medium of two national garments — the Salzburger Volksdirndland the Bucovinean Ie. These garments serve as a connective thread between the cultures and as representatives of the broader issues.

The final work comprises photographs from the artist’s childhood and youth, transferred onto fabric and mended with red thread — a gesture that signifies repair, continuity, and emotional labor. Each selected image captures a moment when nationality and belonging were in negotiation. The inclusion of textual elements evokes the childlike perspective through which these experiences were first processed, while symbolic motifs articulate a deeper attempt to reconcile personal history with cultural heritage.