Language itself is material in this exploration of embodied memories. This work builds upon liminal spaces where language falters in readability, yet holds the potential for healing. It is a speculative narrative inspired by the shapeshifters of South Asian folktales–beings who transform between human and non-human forms. “Scribes” in this work exist in a liminal space between human or non human beings. They are drawn from 17th century texts and botanical illustrations.
Drawing from texts like Francis Bacon’s "Novum Organum" this series departs from his erasure of transcultural exchange, specifically regarding the compass's invention. It looks closely at the orientation of reading as a linguistic tool. It highlights the intersections of colonialism and knowledge production and is a prompt to make space for the (un)translatable as opposed to linguistic conceptions of an "other".
These prints were made during my residency at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley.
