2022 - 2023
Belgian Soil
200 cm x 200 cm
Artist Studio Antwerp
I moved to Belgium, Antwerp post-pandemic and found myself grappling with a profound sense of dislocation, struggling to feel at home in my new surroundings. After a year of navigating this feeling, I resolved to forge a deeper, more intimate connection with the land itself. To do this, I brought Belgian soil into my studio and transformed it into a replica of the tailing floor pattern in my old house. I walked barefoot on it for months while working in the studio.
This meditative practice traced my footsteps while gradually transforming tailing to its natural state. Deeper questions began to emerge about the essence of belonging. Was the soil beneath my feet merely a material? Does it feel displaced as much as I do? If so, should I return it to its place of excavation?
After four months I felt like the connection was established and I gained a sense of place. The tiles became soil and the work was concluded. I decided to return the soil to its place.
