THE SEVEN CAIRNS

The Seven Cairns: A Convergence of Memory and Renewal

The Seven Cairns is an interdisciplinary exploration that weaves together photography, sculpture, and installation, recontextualizing found objects and images as potent symbols of renewal and possibility. Drawing from African animistic traditions and oral histories, this work unfolds a poetic narrative, articulated through an accompanying audio component that deepens the viewer’s engagement.

At the intersection of established artistic categories, I navigate the realms where photography intertwines with sculpture and installation, creating spaces that resonate with both traditional and contemporary aesthetics. My sculptures emerge from the detritus of urban life—domestic objects, furniture, and demolition debris—collected under the cover of night from marginalized neighborhoods in Miami. Each item bears an inherent history, infused with the lived experiences of those who once inhabited these spaces. This practice fosters a collaborative relationship between myself and an anonymous collective, encapsulating the stories of a community often overlooked.

These embedded histories reclaim the notion of renewal; the objects, poised on the brink of disintegration, symbolize the potential for transformation rather than obsolescence. I reject the categorization of these materials as mere ‘waste,’ instead embracing them as harbingers of ‘possibility,’ wherein the discarded, the broken, and the unwanted can metamorphose and regain dignity.

In tandem, my collages extend this dialogue by layering found images sourced from family albums, the dumpsters of ‘Little Haiti,’ internet searches, and recycled magazines. These visual assemblages serve as sedimentary layers of past doctrines and the mundane, evoking a nuanced interplay of absence and presence. They construct a realm that bridges memory and oblivion, prompting reflections on the ephemeral nature of our own recollections and the inevitability of mortality.

My fascination with the intrinsic resonance of inanimate objects is deeply rooted in African animistic beliefs, particularly the oral traditions that shape collective memory. In preparation for this body of work, I initiated the project with storytelling and the transcription of visual impressions. The narrative I present is a true tale, articulated in poetic form, inviting viewers to contemplate the intricate connections between memory, identity, and the cyclical essence of existence.