The University of Auckland

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Research Abstract:
The exhibition explores how hyper-consumption and transnational capital shape urban environments, leading to the emergence of simulated spaces that redefine the relationship between public and private spheres. The research examines the ways in which public spaces, exemplified by Starbucks China coffeehouses, create a sense of “home away from home” for immigrants, complicating traditional notions of belonging and domesticity.

Key Themes:
1. The intersection of urbanization, immigration, and corporate influence.
2. The crisis of traditional distinctions between public and private spheres.
3. The role of simulated domestic spaces in shaping immigrant identities.
4. The concept of “home away from home” and its socio-cultural implications.

Findings:
1. Insights into the relationships between material, relational, and expressive configurations experienced by immigrants.
2. Identification of counter-spatialization processes that reflect resistance to traditional notions of home.
3. Discussions on how these processes may lead to new forms of habitation that transcend conventional boundaries.