My name is Camila Magrane, I'm a multimedia artist based in Twentynine Palms, in the Mojave desert of California. For my origin story, I chose to concentrate on the theme of arrival—specifically, the concept of “home” and how it’s shaped my evolving sense of belonging. I come from a bi-cultural family, with a Venezuelan mother and an American father, and have spent my life living between these two countries. For this piece, I created a photo box containing a series of Polaroid images taken of the places I consider home. Each image serves as an augmented reality trigger, offering deeper insights into my relationship with the depicted place.

Image 1 - Choroni, Aragua (VE) -

My origin story begins in Venezuela, where I was born and where much of my family still lives. I chose to feature the beach in this image, a symbol of Caribbean culture, and the place I spent all of my childhood summers and early adulthood growing up. Swimming in that ocean has always been a way for me to reset, a necessary annual ritual of sorts.

Image 2 - San Francisco, California (US) -

My family moved to San Francisco when I was a baby, it’s there where I spent my childhood school years as well as on and off throughout my adulthood. I have San Francisco to thank for the role it’s played in exposing me to the counter cultures and the tech world it is a hub to, inspiring and profoundly influencing my artistic practice.

Image 3 - Twentynine Palms, California (US) -

In 2021, I moved to the desert—Twentynine Palms. The place where I’ve decided to plant roots, at least for now. A complete contrast to my upbringing. Having grown up in cities and surrounded by clusters of people my whole life, the desert has been a dramatic change. Now, much of my time is spent in solitude, consumed by desolate vistas. A place providing me with space to get to know myself and a blank slate to build from

Image 4 -

The sky plays a prominent role in each image in this series. No matter where I am, I know I can always look up and count on the sky to be an ever-present anchor, an element that unifies all of my homes. Birds have been included as a symbol of freedom, never bound to a single place, building nests in different trees.

Image 5 -

Growing up between two countries often left me feeling disoriented, struggling with a yearning to “fit in” to one place or culture. Over time, I’ve realized that this unconventional upbringing has provided me with the superpower of adaptability and helped shape my sense of home, no longer tied to a fixed place. This piece is not so much about the arrival to a physical location but more so a reflection on the concept of home— like the ever-shifting clouds in the sky, “home” is fluid and continuously evolving, and with it, my sense of being. As cliche as it is, the saying “home is where the heart is” sums it all up pretty well.