Wind and water move the soil

2024｜ Soil from Utrecht (NL), Xuan paper, stainless steel, electric fan ｜ Each installation: Diameter 65 cm x L 400 cm

Everything is connected, often in ways that are not immediately visible. I abstract familiar objects to explore their primal state and to create space for reflection—such as how water links to and shapes other elements in our lives. My installation investigates the speculative ties between water, wind, and soil, three elements essential for existence across cultures. 

Clues
In October 2023, I stayed in Utrecht to study social phenomena related to water. In the Dutch lowlands, windmills often serve as drainage tools, removing excess water. While visiting an antique book fair in Amsterdam, I discovered centuries-old maps and later explored the National Maritime Museum to understand how sea maps were made. Each voyage in early modern Europe brought back data that reshaped maps and scientific knowledge, since traditional methods could not fully explain new discoveries. I was also inspired by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), who traveled to Surinam to study insects and illustrated her observations. 

Water and Wind
Water and wind have no fixed form, yet both shape human life. Wind turns mill blades and ship sails, driving gears that regulate water levels. My installation translates this motion: stainless steel parts with spinning wheels support sheets of Xuan paper that rotate in the breeze. Water mixed with soil creates patterns on the paper, binding earth to its surface. In the exhibition, wind keeps the paper spinning endlessly. This "mill" extracts no water and powers no ship, yet its motion evokes the ceaseless return and fluidity of water itself.

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The project is co-funded by Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and made possible by Utrecht University of the Arts, the Netherlands.