BAROQUE BLUE: Nature and Shamanic Cosmology

International residency

In July 2024, I travelled to Santa Caterina di Nardò, Italy, for an 11-day Cosmology art residency. Immersing myself in the region's history and natural environment profoundly influenced my creative process. While I've primarily worked in digital spaces throughout my artistic career, this experience reconnected me with the land, leading to the creation of site-specific works that blend culture, nature, and map-making.

Scroll down to see what I worked on, and feel free to reach out with any questions! You can also visit my Instagram highlights for more inspiration from this journey.

Ritual 1: Alter of Salt

Type: installation / performance

Materials: bone, shell, lemon, salt, feather

Description: During a shamanic ritual in the Pineta di Santa Caterina forest, a cat skull was discovered. This skull was then carefully cleansed on an altar within Grotta di Capelvenere using a fallen lemon and local sea salt from Morogino - the Intimate Garden of Rocks that Speak. The interplay of lemon, salt, and bone symbolizes purification and transformation, reflecting the profound connection between these elements and the spiritual essence of the grotto.

Ritual 2: Map of a Shaman

Type: Mixed media installation

Materials: Bone, Shell, Salt, Feather, Burnt wood, Blood, Acrylic, Pastels.

Description: The final outcome of the Baroque Blue residency was a mixed media installation featuring a partially buried paper map, over which a collection of objects was suspended. These objects, previously used in Ritual 1, cast dancing shadows onto the map below.