Burial

November 2025

In many cultures burial is a sacred act. For some, it is to prepare for resurrection; for others, it returns us to the soil from which we came. When I consider my own relationship with the earth, I find that whenever I lose my sense of direction I instinctively return to the ground. 

This project grew out of that impulse. In covering my body in desert soil, its refusal to cling to my body becomes a symbol of how difficult it is to reconnect with the earth. In each repetition of pressing the dirt against my skin, I create my own momentary reconnection and sense of peace. My past attempts to reground have been temporary and this time is no different. I question, how do I make this last longer? Is the reason why this reconnection is temporary because the earth will only accept me after death? In this sense, my version of burial is not an ending but instead a gesture of renewal. My constant efforts to reconnect with the earth and bridge the gap between body and soil and reveal not only the power the earth has to renew, but also just how far we’ve strayed from it. Burial is not only a way for me to reconnect with the earth but also invites the viewer to rediscover their own connection with the earth.