Inherited Landscapes

My installation Inherited Landscapes explores the relationship between witnessing, memory, and generational cycles. The work began with a personal reflection on my role as a parent and putting myself in my son's shoes. I was curious about witnessing, the feeling of love, how we observe, absorb, and carry the experiences that shape us, along with how those experiences influence what/how we pass forward to future generations.

The main form is a pyramid, a structure that references ancient symbolism, stability, and human connection across time. Within this structure is a sculpture of a raven/tree, created from the image of my son, representing both the individual and the continuation of a lineage. The raven functions as a witness, an observer moving between past and future, carrying stories, experiences, and transformation. The tree portion represents a story I heard in Ecuador at Paseo de los Monos, where I volunteered at a monkey sanctuary. A tree consumed another tree to survive. I felt fascinated by the parallel of connections regarding life, death, and rebirth between nature and our ancestral cycles.

Surrounding the central sculpture is an immersive textile environment created through layers of fabric, recycled plastic, and yarn. Beneath the yarn, letters are painted on the fabric. These letters were collected from individuals who were recently released from prison. I wanted to recreate the feeling of being surrounded and held by nature, similar to the sensation of walking through a living womb. Inherited Landscapes examines how our individual histories exist within larger cycles of connection, memory, and change. (something about small pieces that come together to create a whole)

Installation 2026, Textile, Acrylic Resin/Fiberglass, Recycled/Found materials