Timeline
march
How long will it take for me to be allowed UK to call home?
No matter how long I live in the UK,
I will always be an immigrant.
That label identity of being an IMMIGRANT does not fade with time. I decided to see if I could explore this idea in visual way, somewhat conceptual and make it material.
I began thinking about the amount time I spent as an adult. Literally the number of days I have lived as an adult in the Czech Republic, and the number of days I have lived as an adult in the UK. The idea of translating this into a physical system felt immediately compelling. If each day were represented as a length of line, the scale would become enormous. I realised I might need to shift from days to weeks or months to make the visualisation manageable. I had found a new concept I want to take to end.
To create a structured system that transforms lived time into a material form.
sampling the idea
My initial idea was to use the line to express duration.
I wanted each segment to be distinct, so the first question I needed to answer was:
what will be my basic unit of measurement?
I began with days.
If one line represents a day, then seven lines placed side by side become a week. These weeks could then be separated by a small gap and repeated.
I was keen to stay aligned with the artistic influences that shaped this project, particularly the philosophy of Arte Povera, which resonates with my own approach to making.
My first sample used a scrap of waste calico and basic white polyester thread. Afterwards, I stained the calico with tea. The natural fibre reacted beautifully, creating a soft contrast, while the polyester, that being synthetic it resisted the stain. Visually, the
subtle differences between natural and man‑made
materials were compelling, and conceptually they echoed the themes I was exploring.
However I wanted to see what would happen if I introduced more texture and colour. I added a layer of poly net over the calico and stitched in red. This produced a striking visual effect, and the netted side became tactile. I immediately wanted to pursue further.
This was the moment I evaluated the line and my basic unit of counting. My conclusion I needed to increase the amount of time each line represented. The next logical step was to shift from days to weeks. If each line represented a week, then 52 lines would form a year. I needed to create 43 years.
From my earlier samples, I knew I wanted to keep the contrast in colour and the tactile quality. I used wool strands with a zig‑zag contrasting stitch. The result was intriguing: the contrast was not only in colour but also in texture — the smooth surface on one side and the coarse wool on the other. It felt like two sides of a story, like two sides of a coin. One cannot see what lies beneath until it is uncovered or touched. This confirmed I was on the right track.
Following this formula, I created 22 pieces of calico embroidered with red wool to represent the years of my life lived in Czech, my childhood years. They appear brighter and longer. Then I made 21 pieces embroidered with purple wool, a colour chosen for its association with maturity. I assembled the pieces into two long lines so that my existence could be viewed side by side. I was surprised by the scale. Working with small components, I hadn’t fully anticipated how it would feel once an assembled. Once everything was laid out, the sheer size added a new dimension to the project.
A physical presence that mirrored the weight of lived time.
This idea connects directly to Bergson’s concept of durée. If time is not just a series of discrete units it is a continuous flow of lived experience.
Durée is qualitative, not quantitative.
It represents the feeling of time as it accumulates, representing my life in the Czech Republic and my life in the UK. Yet as these are two separate timelines, they are also two interwoven durations, each shaping my sense of self and belonging.
This experiment set to create a conversation about physical manifestation of the life I have lived, the life I am living, and the subtle differences within each past and present.