EPIDERMIS OF EARTH

Exploring Memory and Transformation Through Materiality

Epidermis of Earth is an ongoing exploration of displacement and cultural heritage through photography and found objects. This project utilizes material disintegration as a metaphor for memory and the human condition, with maize symbolizing colonization. My work examines the relationship between disrupted landscapes and the experiences of displacement, reflecting the journeys of pilgrims, refugees, pioneers, and the exiled. It challenges the artificial boundaries imposed by geography and culture.

Drawing from African philosophy, my practice suggests that ancestors are reabsorbed into the earth, leaving behind imprints of rituals, ceremonies, and survival. The crust of the earth emerges as a bruised epidermis, serving as a silent witness to the unfolding narrative of humanity. Through my work, I excavate the testimonies of interrupted lives from the landscapes that once held them, creating pathways to reconstruct collective memory and envision new modes of experience.

My two- and three-dimensional ensembles juxtapose archaic materials and found objects, incorporating rust, wood, decaying fabrics, and earth to evoke a sense of ritual. These elements serve as reminders of ancestral journeys across uncharted terrains. Central to my inquiry is the disintegration of material, which becomes a metaphor for the human condition and the process of transformation. I am captivated by the dynamics of deterioration and change, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient nature of existence and the narratives embedded within our surroundings.