Artist, Designer, Art director, Choerographer, Dancer
Team
Individual
Scope
Pre-design to construction and Installation
Timeline
3 months
Breath of the Land is an interdisciplinary art project that explores the relationship between humans and nature through sculptural forms, movement, and spatial interaction. Rooted in the landscapes of New Mexico, the project reflects themes of unity, displacement, and healing by creating structures that appear to breathe within the environment.
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The Background
How did it start..
Inspired by the desert landscapes of Lamy Eldorado, New Mexico, where I lived and spent time observing the land’s rhythms, this project examines the symbiotic relationship between people and place. The sculptures embody the resilience of the land and its inhabitants, responding to themes of adaptation and belonging.
Research and Define
The central challenge was to create a sculpture that is both static and dynamic, responding to its environment while also interacting with the human body and its presence inside it. The research began with an in-depth study of forms and fractals in the landscape, examining natural movements and the ways in which form relates to and engages with the human body. This exploration aimed to bridge the connection between the sculpture, its surroundings, and the experience of those who interact with it.
Ideate and Design
Multiple design iterations explored geometric and freeform structures, refining them through continuous experimentation. The study of fluidity, tension, and dynamic movement played a crucial role in shaping each piece, ensuring that they visually and conceptually align with the theme of rebellion.
The design process involved iterative exploration of form, movement, and interaction with the surrounding environment. Scale played a crucial role, as the relationship between detail scale and movement, as well as the connection between the sculpture’s surface (skin) and the larger landscape, defined where belonging and displacement occur within the system of scales. Additionally, the choice of material and color was carefully considered to enhance the sculpture’s responsiveness to its environment and reinforce its conceptual framework.
Construction
The making process involved experimenting with lightweight yet durable materials that could withstand the elements while maintaining a soft, organic quality. The sculptures were refined through an iterative process, ensuring they resonated with the natural setting while maintaining their conceptual integrity.
Reflection
The project underscores the idea that land is not static—it holds memory, breath, and presence. The creative journey was nonlinear, filled with cycles of discovery, iteration, and adaptation. Just as nature constantly reshapes itself, Breath of the Land evolved through its development, reinforcing the importance of listening to and coexisting with our surroundings.
