Urban Structures

Urban Structures speaks to our loss of connection to indigenous cultures, and the ways this loss affects the human psyche. On a recent trek across Tibet, I witnessed first-hand the loss of culture and community through the destruction of homes and monasteries in the path of Chinese progress. When I lived in Brooklyn, New York, I also witnessed the rapidly changing urban environment of demolition and construction, in the form of American gentrification. The experience of impermanence and loss has deeply affected countless displaced families around the world, and in Urban Structures, I honor the memory of place, neighborhoods, and the families who have lived there for generations.

The sculptures are created using salvaged detritus from Bushwick demolition sites. The concrete serves as the base upon which I build an architectural form. Within these structures I place sacred objects that were collected on my travels: earth from Tibet, white sage from the Southwest, seeds, beads, and hand-written prayers. In addition to honoring the memory of a place, the structure holds potential for positive growth; the new residents of a community may build upon the wisdom of those whom they have displaced.

In Urban Structures, I seek to formulate a sense of harmony and tension, a place where opposites co-exist. Humans existing in an urban sprawl, ancient cultures clashing with market values in real estate, nature being threatened by encroaching construction. I seek to find the harmony in chaos, and honor the juncture where they come together.