This video poetry, called Lighthouse, addresses loneliness, isolation and yearning. A lighthouse stands on the coast for ships to navigate safely; when sailors approach the shore, it is the first thing they see. The lighthouse, as a metaphor, is associated with loss and longing, just as a stranger’s undying light gives me warmth in the middle of night. It is also a reference to my three female friends who bring me hope on dark, wintery days. As newcomers from different backgrounds, we are all struggling with connecting to Oxford.

Intimacy exists not only between lovers, but also among acquaintances, friends and international students in a community. I recorded some conversations and interactions between us. The purpose was to document specific moments when we were vulnerable and open with each other, to see if our private conversations would resonate with others and elicit empathy when shared with them. Although viewers cannot fully understand the participants’ perceptions because the film footage draws on uniquely lived experiences, they can still empathise with our plight, struggles, happiness and pain.