(un)threaded & (re)woven explores the burden that overconsumption created by capitalist systems and indoctrination has placed not only the earth in, but its peoples as well, primarily those from the Global South. This piece focus on the textile and fast fashion industries and strives to untangle the untold narratives of people that have been dehumanized and commodified for their labor to provide for western interests.

We intertwine salvaged textiles, clothing garments, and plastic packaging using intricate braiding techniques, fostering a dialogue between natural and man-made elements while highlighting the labor embedded within these industries. Cascading from the tree, they symbolize the weight they impose on the earth and its peoples. Through the varying mirrors, we invite the viewer to contemplate their place within these global systems, which they benefit from, and to recognize that overconsumption often stems from the spiritual void in our society. We then pose the question of how love and connection to the earth can shape our beliefs and values to help us abolish these systems to not only save the earth but to also save our fellow brothers and sisters experiencing the first-hand effects of globalization and overproduction and consumerism. 

This installation was displayed at the annual 2024 Frost Music Festival at Stanford University and made in collaboration with Aaron Adriano and Mariel Camargo.

Photo Credits: Megan Chen