Migration, as a complex and multifaceted human experience, extends far beyond the mere act of physically relocating from one place to another. It profoundly reshapes fundamental concepts such as identity, home, and belonging, introducing significant psychological, emotional, and social dimensions to human life. For migrants, the notion of home is no longer confined to a physical location; instead, it evolves into a powerful symbol of stability, emotional memory, cultural continuity, and personal connection. The experience of losing or being displaced from one’s home often generates a deep sense of absence, disorientation, nostalgia, and longing, affecting both individual identity and collective belonging.

In contemporary migration studies, home is increasingly understood as a fluid and multidimensional construct rather than a fixed geographical entity. It encompasses emotional attachments, cultural practices, personal memories, and symbolic references that continue to shape migrants’ sense of self even after physical displacement. As a result, migrants often seek alternative ways to preserve continuity with their former lives, drawing upon material and symbolic resources that enable them to negotiate belonging across multiple spatial and cultural contexts. This perspective highlights the importance of everyday objects as mediators between past and present, memory and experience, absence and presence.

This study examines the role of objects from migrants’ past lives—ranging from everyday belongings and keepsakes to personal artifacts—in mentally reconstructing the concept of home. Such objects serve as carriers of memory and identity, sustaining connections with lost or distant places and allowing migrants to preserve a sense of psychological continuity during periods of change and displacement.his research investigates the artistic transformation of these objects into dramatic characters within puppet theatre.

Puppet Theatre, as a performative and symbolic art form, offers a unique platform for expressing complex human experiences, including displacement, memory, and identity formation. This study addresses three primary concepts: first, how commonplace objects evolve into potent symbols of home and personal identity throughout the migratory process. Second, in what ways these objects can be creatively transformed into vivid, dynamic, and emotionally resonant characters within puppet theatre. Third, how narrative literature acts as a bridge, connecting the lived experiences of migrants with the imaginative, performative world of puppetry, enabling audiences to engage with both symbolic and emotional dimensions of migration. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of the “hidden soul of objects” and Carl Gustav Jung’s concept of “active imagination,” this study employs a qualitative-analytical methodology to examine the documentary narrative The Umbrella, authored by Aliyeh Ataei. This narrative provides a compelling case study for understanding the symbolic and emotional significance of objects in the lives of displaced individuals.

Particular attention is given to the relationship between documentary narration and theatrical adaptation. Documentary narratives preserve individual experiences and lived realities, while theatrical representation transforms those experiences into forms that can be collectively perceived and emotionally interpreted. By examining this interaction, the study demonstrates how literary narratives can generate imaginative spaces in which objects acquire dramatic agency and symbolic depth. Such a process allows personal memories associated with migration to be translated into visual and performative language, thereby expanding the possibilities for artistic engagement with themes of displacement, identity, and home.

The findings reveal that objects often transcend their physical and utilitarian functions, becoming symbolic vessels that embody notions of home, identity, memory, and connection to a lost or distant past. In context of puppet theatre, these objects gain renewed life through animation, theatrical representation, and embodied performance. They are not merely on stage; they are layers of meaning, evoking empathy, reflection, and identification among audiences.
Ultimately, this research demonstrates that puppet theatre offers a powerful and unique medium for conveying the intricate emotions, psychological realities, and social experiences associated with migration. By transforming objects into dramatic agents, artists can explore and communicate the migrant’s experiences of home, loss, and identity in innovative ways. This approach opens new avenues for creative representation, intercultural dialogue, and emotional engagement, emphasizing the potential of meaningful objects to bridge personal memory and performative storytelling. Overall, the study highlights how integrating material culture, narrative literature, and puppetry can create rich artistic experiences that resonate with both creators and audiences, offering deeper insights into the symbolic and affective dimensions of migration.