Temporary Dwelling: Memories and Emotions in Transit

Temporary Dwelling: Memories and Emotions in Transit

 

What is it

Alsolike Gallery specialises in exploring object-based art, aiming to integrate art into daily life and foster profound emotional connections between artworks and everyday experiences. Located in the In modern society, the concept of "home" is undergoing redefinition and even gradual dilution. Against the backdrop of increasing mobility and uncertainty, people are more inclined to construct temporary homes. As fundamental components of domestic life, objects not only serve practical functions but also carry profound emotions and memories. When these objects transition from private domains into public exhibition spaces, they transform into cultural expressions that can be interpreted and shared. 

The exhibition focuses on artists' narrative-driven processes of imbuing objects with symbolic meanings, turning them into bridges connecting individuals, families, and memories. Through the forms and content of objects, the artists reconsider the composition of home and its significance in contemporary society, inspiring viewers to engage in both emotional resonance and philosophical reflection on the concept of "home." Ultimately, the central question emerges: what truly constitutes our home?  
Shoreditch district of East London, the gallery is situated in a community renowned for its rich artistic atmosphere and avant-garde culture. This area is not only a place of transient living experiences but also a stage for narratives of memory and emotion due to its unique cultural and historical context. Through this exhibition, the gallery seeks to provide a multidimensional platform for discussing the redefinition of "home," inviting viewers to reflect on the intricate relationships between objects, memory, and emotion.

Curator: Xuan Xu
Organizer: Alsolike Gallery
Academic Support: YDMD Studio, Synonym Lab
Curatorial Coordinator: Wanqian Zhang
Programme Director: Yiru Zhang

 

When is it

25th February, 2025 -Private view

18:00-21:00

 

25th February  - 2nd March, 2025

10:30 - 18:30

Where to visit

Alsolike

16 Chance Street

London

E2 7JB

 

What to expect

 

Featured Brand：

Whetstone

Whetstone’s Scoop Collection draws inspiration from the history of silverware and its connection to love and defiance. In the past, servants of affluent families risked exile and hard labor for stealing silver spoons—transforming them into rings when they couldn’t afford proper ones. These spoon rings became symbols of both love and quiet rebellion.

This collection questions whether the idea of "going to great lengths for love" still holds today. Stripping away ornamentation, it embraces fluid curves and organic lines that honor the essence of the spoon itself. In its simplicity lies warmth, strength, and a quiet contemplation of love in its purest form.

Beyond romance, the Scoop Collection speaks to individual identity, freedom, and the evolving nature of love—inviting wearers to reflect on what truly endures beneath the surface.

 

Artists:

 Lanxin Zhang （Laxy）

Lanxin Zhang explores the wearer's experience through jewelry, drawing inspiration from daily life and her expertise in gemstone engraving and metalwork.

In her series Intimate Touch, she examines how digital devices shape the body over time. The collection features night silver and gold objects that mimic the physical imprints of prolonged smartphone use, such as hand strain and fingertip wear. These rigid, decorative pieces restrict movement, symbolizing the occupation and surveillance of the body.

For Zhang, jewelry is a form of communication, sparking reflection on how technology subtly alters our physical habits and daily lives.

 

 

Noga Harel

Noga Harel is an artist and goldsmith based in Scotland, whose work explores materials, textures, and a sense of place. Through jewelry, objects, and sculptural pieces, she reflects on her environment and personal journey.

Her collection Transient Spaces poetically interprets the loss of home and belonging. Created in a remote Icelandic village, these pieces embody intimate spaces for introspection—portable sanctuaries where memories and a sense of protection reside. Inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space, Harel’s work captures the longing for home, translating personal history into tactile, wearable forms.

 

 

Ling Qiao

Ling Qiao is a London-based computer art student exploring the impact of repressive family and social structures. Formerly an architect, she shifted her focus to digital art and ceramics to address adolescent mental health through artistic expression.

Her work draws from personal experience, transforming pain into art that challenges societal norms. Using 3ds Max, Blender, UE5, and ZBrush, she creates visually compelling pieces with a sustainable approach.

In Apple, she examines the illusion of choice in East Asian families, where parental and cultural pressures shape children’s paths. Through her art, Qiao sparks dialogue on autonomy, mental health, and healing.

 

 

Sanad Khoury

Sanad Khoury is a contextual designer whose work evokes human emotions and explores the metaphysical using interactive objects. Khoury's work is defined by its sculptural nature, where elegant forms portray meaningful stories.

Homecoming is a sculptural fountain born out of Khoury's own yearning for home, and the feeling of never quite finding it. Using water as an allegory for the ever-present and almost endless search for home, this fountain provides a unique visitor experience. From the sacred wells of England to the biblical waters of the Jordan river, water becomes our common ancestor.

 

 

Lena Esaulova

Lena’s work merges craftsmanship with storytelling, transforming antique and vintage jewelry into contemporary pieces with new meaning. Her signature approach goes beyond recycling—she reinterprets historical elements, experimenting with form, function, and symbolism.

Blurring the line between jewelry and sculpture, her creations bring a sense of home, wherever that may be. Her series includes wearable jewelry chests that hold meaningful objects or fragrances and The Ocean, a silver-plated fisherman’s net adorned with sacred symbols. This piece, displayed on Marjan Pejoski’s sculpture, evokes a goddess-like figure guarding collected treasures, embodying protection and transformation.

 

 

Elea Troiano

Elea Troiano’s work explores transformation, memory, and belonging through intimate storytelling and materiality. Blending instinct with observation, she creates simple yet deeply evocative pieces that carry layers of emotion and connection.

Her series Circles reflects on the meaning of home—a place that no longer belongs to her and the people who are no longer there. These silver rings embody the tension between permanence and change, with hidden gemstones symbolizing the unseen yet deeply felt memories we carry.

By reinterpreting everyday objects into wearable narratives, Circles questions what remains when home is no longer a fixed place. More than jewelry, these rings are storytellers—preserving fragments of the past while embracing the ever-evolving nature of belonging.

 

 

Seongmin Kim

Seongmin Kim is a London-based contemporary jewellery artist who explores human connections through natural materials like pearl and mother-of-pearl. Her work extends beyond traditional jewellery into objects and installations, blending symbolism with emotional depth.

Her collections Motherly Love (2022) and Echoes of Emotions (2024) reflect themes of protection, memory, and tenderness. Motherly Love draws from the pearl’s formation, symbolizing the enduring mother-child bond, while Echoes of Emotions transforms cherished memories into wearable keepsakes.

Exhibited at Copeland Gallery (2025) and the Goldsmiths' Centre (2024), Seongmin continues to refine her craft, redefining jewellery as a narrative-driven, immersive art form.

 

 

Layla Yuanxing Lin

Surfacing The Crack is a series of objects made from hand-woven fine wires, where fragile materials are strengthened, stretched, and broken to create a forged form. The work explores the gap between the visible and invisible, questioning the authenticity of beauty by unveiling its structure.

Drawing on the symbolism of the spider in women’s craft, the project reflects the duality of motherhood—nurturing yet untamed. The silver bowl, woven over a month, represents home and belonging, embodying both fragility and strength, and symbolizing the complex, evolving role of motherhood.

 

 

Xinyu Meng

Xinyu Meng is a graphic designer driven by purpose, with a passion for creating impactful designs. Their interest began with volunteer work for autistic children, leading to a deep exploration of graphic and communication design. Skilled in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Xinyu balances aesthetics with functionality across print and digital media. Their recent visit to the UK’s top art institutions fueled their ambition to pursue further studies in a creative environment.

This project reflects generational conflicts, exploring differing views on marriage, careers, and family values. Presented as a book with a double-door design, it contrasts the perspectives of the older and younger generations. The book’s five chapters are accompanied by postcards and a pair of miniature book bracelets, symbolizing the bonds and constraints between generations.

 

 

 

Ji Young Kim

Ji Young Kim's work is deeply influenced by the concept of "filling" in jewelry. In her home country, the verb "fill" (chanda) is used instead of "wear" to describe the act of adorning oneself with jewelry. This subtle difference in language sparked her contemplation of the deeper meaning behind jewelry. For her, jewelry doesn't only fill a physical space but can also address emotional voids, offering both a sense of comfort and personal meaning. Living near North Korea in Paju city, Ji Young Kim reflects on life's chaos and the internal struggles that everyone faces, influenced by social pressures and the need for recognition. Her work is characterized by a focus on weaving with 1mm wire, incorporating a sense of elasticity into her metal designs. This elasticity represents resilience against unhappiness and symbolizes life's cyclical nature of emptiness and fulfillment. Through her practice, she explores the contradictions of life, the desire for stability, and the constant push for recognition.

 

 

Xi Li

Xi Li is a London-based artist, currently pursuing an MA in contemporary jewelry at Central Saint Martins. Her work combines innovative materials with traditional craftsmanship, blending jewelry, sculpture, and painting to explore emotions and memories. Inspired by her hometown of Yunnan, she uses treated elephant dung and Dai people’s traditional techniques to create wearable postcards that serve as both souvenirs and cultural symbols. The pieces reflect on migration, home, and identity, and proceeds support elephant conservation. Xi challenges conventional jewelry by transforming it into interactive objects that preserve and tell stories through materiality and design.

 

 

Jingyi Li

Jingyi Li (b. 1999, Beijing) is an artist based in London, currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London, focusing on craft theory. She holds a Bachelor of Art from Tsinghua University and an MFA in Jewellery and Metal from the Royal College of Art. Her work has been exhibited at Galerie Marzee, Norito Gallery, and Galerie Joseph.

Li’s work explores feminist themes, focusing on Asian women's stories and emotions. Using soft materials, she unlocks the potential of atypical techniques to communicate histories and experiences. Her series The Hidden Drawer features everyday domestic objects, such as butter knives wrapped in self-made lace, suggesting an erotic and concealed aspect of femininity often overlooked.