Illustrator Molly Maine, who has been traveling the world since 2016 while running her remote design studio, is opening her first solo exhibition in London. Titled "Nomad: Perspectives on Home in a Changing Japan," the show grew out of her experiences at the Colive Fukuoka conference and an artist residency in Kanazawa. During her time in Japan, Maine interviewed both earthquake evacuees from the Noto Peninsula and digital nomads who had relocated there, exploring contrasting experiences of displacement and belonging. The exhibition weaves together these voices through illustration commissions that examine what defines home.
The exhibition matters because it addresses a timely global conversation about home, migration, and community in an era of increasing mobility and climate displacement. By juxtaposing the forced displacement of earthquake survivors with the voluntary mobility of digital nomads, Maine highlights shared human needs for connection and belonging across vastly different circumstances. The show also underscores the growing cultural impact of remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle, which is reshaping how artists and creatives engage with place, community, and identity.