Yendegaia 2016-18
Valle Lapataia, Tierra del Fuego, Chile
outdoor Shower, underground Greenhouse, woven shelving, composting toilet
2017/18
outdoor Shower, underground Greenhouse, woven shelving, composting toilet
2017/18
YENDEGAIA translates to "deep bay" in the indigenous language of the Yaghan People in the fjords of Patagonia. This project was the culmination of two years of research and experience within Chile. I spent 5 months in isolation with partner, Joshua Levine in 2016, and 3 exact lunar cycles in 2017. Here we maintained 0 connection to the outside world where it takes 3 days to arrive by foot to this abandoned shack. One boat arrives once a month to a location 3 days away with no trails to this house. This project explored how consciousness shifts when fully emersed in the natural environment, without connection to a wider community.
Leading up to this project we learned land stewardship practices from several women throughout Chile [including founder of Association of Patagonia Peasant Woman (Blanca Melina), and founder of EcoEscuela Viviencial (Cata Caolores)]. We also investigated and met with foundations responsible for acquiring Yendegaia as a park which included Amigos de Yendegaia, and the series of parks created by Douglas Thompkins. Throughout the process we exposed corruption within the conservation system which included a road being constructed through the park. This was causing a disruption to the ecosystem which threatened habitats of rare birds, bogs, and destroyed archeological sites. Within this project we became the first official field researchers of Parque Nacional Yendegaia as volunteers. Our findings report the disruption of the ecosystem due to the Chilean miliary using dynomite, along with the extensive lists of flora and fauna with medicinal qualities and indigenous names.
This park was not accessible to the public due to the government using dynomite. All information gathered as the sole witnesses to destruction of indigenous sites was given directly to the Yaghan community who displayed their active role against the road through Yendegaia directly following the release of this information.
Leading up to this project we learned land stewardship practices from several women throughout Chile [including founder of Association of Patagonia Peasant Woman (Blanca Melina), and founder of EcoEscuela Viviencial (Cata Caolores)]. We also investigated and met with foundations responsible for acquiring Yendegaia as a park which included Amigos de Yendegaia, and the series of parks created by Douglas Thompkins. Throughout the process we exposed corruption within the conservation system which included a road being constructed through the park. This was causing a disruption to the ecosystem which threatened habitats of rare birds, bogs, and destroyed archeological sites. Within this project we became the first official field researchers of Parque Nacional Yendegaia as volunteers. Our findings report the disruption of the ecosystem due to the Chilean miliary using dynomite, along with the extensive lists of flora and fauna with medicinal qualities and indigenous names.
This park was not accessible to the public due to the government using dynomite. All information gathered as the sole witnesses to destruction of indigenous sites was given directly to the Yaghan community who displayed their active role against the road through Yendegaia directly following the release of this information.
2018
These pieces were creating while living in an abandoned tin house "Casa De Lata" in Yendegaia, National Park, Patagonia, Chile. Made from Watercolor, foraged califate juice, black bean juice, and tea.
These pieces were creating while living in an abandoned tin house "Casa De Lata" in Yendegaia, National Park, Patagonia, Chile. Made from Watercolor, foraged califate juice, black bean juice, and tea.