Decomposition Dance was a site based installation for Terra Incognita 2023 at the Verdancy Project in Troutdale, Oregon.
The sinewy, fleshy bits that bind us together are represented in the intricate and interconnected bramble weaving, threads, and textiles that comprise this installation. Much like the sinews that weave through our bodies, forming the networks that bind us to our bones, these madder dyed textiles intertwine and overlap, creating a complex and intricate web of relationships. They symbolize the bonds we forge with each other, with nature, and with the world around us, highlighting the interdependence that defines our existence.
The woven Himalayan blackberry brambles conjure the complexity of humanity’s relationship to nature. We are nurtured by nature, and we are very much a part of it, and yet much of known human culture is defined by our capture and colonization of the natural world. The impact of humanity’s complex relationship with nature has been manifested in climate change, pollution and other ecological disasters and we must find ways to process the resulting grief and trauma.
This installation suggests that Nature has perfected the art of processing and decomposition. The forest turning fallen leaves, fallen trees, and even the remains of animals into fertile soil, nurturing new life, growing new things. Through the delicate interplay of textiles and bramble weavings, this installation speaks to the wisdom of nature as a guide for processing grief and moving into healing and reconciliation.
The sinewy, fleshy bits that bind us together are represented in the intricate and interconnected bramble weaving, threads, and textiles that comprise this installation. Much like the sinews that weave through our bodies, forming the networks that bind us to our bones, these madder dyed textiles intertwine and overlap, creating a complex and intricate web of relationships. They symbolize the bonds we forge with each other, with nature, and with the world around us, highlighting the interdependence that defines our existence.
The woven Himalayan blackberry brambles conjure the complexity of humanity’s relationship to nature. We are nurtured by nature, and we are very much a part of it, and yet much of known human culture is defined by our capture and colonization of the natural world. The impact of humanity’s complex relationship with nature has been manifested in climate change, pollution and other ecological disasters and we must find ways to process the resulting grief and trauma.
This installation suggests that Nature has perfected the art of processing and decomposition. The forest turning fallen leaves, fallen trees, and even the remains of animals into fertile soil, nurturing new life, growing new things. Through the delicate interplay of textiles and bramble weavings, this installation speaks to the wisdom of nature as a guide for processing grief and moving into healing and reconciliation.