Preserve

Yakisugi is a Japanese wood burning technique utilized for its preservative qualities. The carbohydrate component of the wood is burned away, preventing bugs and fungi from metabolizing it. I used this technique to create a traditional plant press, used for drying specimens under pressure. Living in America has resulted in a loss of connection to my cultural heritage, and these are my efforts to preserve my fading link. I placed Indian women’s clothing in the press, to protect from bugs and other external harm. The mass of clothing threatens to burst out from one side, cascading over itself, representative of a vibrant culture that is difficult to capture. While we try to preserve things and keep them safe, we might end up suffocating or damaging those things. The squeezing of the material and the transfer of charcoal is evidence of this.