“Nostalgia is for me a safe place to go to in spirit.”
LISA, 26
Lisa Albrecht (born 1996) is a student of media art at the Bauhaus University Weimar. She was born and grew up in Dresden. The interview took place on March, 28th 2023 in Weimar.
Mina is originally from Turkey but has been living in Weimar since September 2022. She is currently studying her master’s degree in Media Architecture at Bauhaus University.
“Nostalgia it could be a good thing or a bad thing, it will just come when you feel something like maybe more depressive or when you are feeling happy because if you miss something for example like feeling that you have it before.”
MINA, 24
In the pages of Dissecting Nostalgia, the moving story of Jiacheng Huang unfolds. This industrial designer, hailing from China but now based in Canada, has journeyed to Weimar to take part in Bauhaus Spring School, as a member of the Living and Housing Workshop.
Jiacheng speaks of nostalgia with a depth of emotion that is both touching and profound. He sees it as an experience that transcends the boundaries of good and bad, a force that has developed within him over the years. In his own words, “Nostalgia is a temporary access to a room. I never know what I’ll find inside, but I know some of the ways in. I actively look for it every place I go to.”
But Jiacheng is keenly aware that nostalgia must be measured and balanced, lest its enchantment be lost. The triggers that unlock this feeling are varied, from the simple discipline of German culture that reminds him of his homeland, to the longing he feels when his dentist speaks to him in the same tone as his mother. J’s story reminds us of the power and emotional weight of this oftenmisunderstood emotion.
This book has highlighted the power and universality of nostalgia, as demonstrated by the diverse stories shared by people from different backgrounds and ages. Despite our differences, we all share a common human experience of longing for the past and cherishing memories that have shaped who we are. From childhood memories of family and friends to reminiscing about lost loved ones, nostalgia can evoke a range of emotions that are unique to each individual. However, what unites us is the ability to find comfort and meaning in the past, and to use those experiences to navigate our present and future. As this book has shown, nostalgia is not just a personal sentiment, but a shared experience that connects us to one another and to our collective history.
If you feel something coming up in your soul, feel free to leave some nostalgic words on the blank spaces of this book.
Concept and project artistic supervisors:
Aysegul Selenga Taskent and Delizia Flaccavento
This book has been realized within the course : Humans and the city Stories behind faces as part of BAUHAUS SPRING SCHOOL 2023