Daughter, 2022

(Created with the Mediterranean in the South of France)

But what does love look like for lands that you do not belong to? This piece explores what it means to be away from my ancestral land/ community and how I have maintained this connection abroad. Connection to land is the center of our spiritual beliefs. While in a month-long artist residency at The Castle of La Napoule in the south of France, I had to learn to love lands that are strangers to me. I also had to learn to love plants that were invasive on my own territories. The background layer of this piece is done entirely with plants from around the castle. Each day, I connected with a different plant for at least 15 minutes. I learned different teachings, values, and insights through each plant. Through this, I realized that no matter where I am in the world, my love for land is the same. While the Pacific Ocean feels like my mother, the Mediterranean Sea feels like my Aunty. While I feel Cedar in my spirit, I feel the Olive Trees in my bones. This connection to land will never be far from me as long as I walk on the Earth. I am a daughter to the sky and have responsibilities to every being on this earth. So, I am learning to love those who are strangers- humans and plants alike.