Vestige

Vestige is a living, sculptural installation that examines the entangled relationship between care, decay, and institutional dependence. This piece compels viewers to confront the invisible labor of care and the consequences of neglect embedded within the systems we rely on. The fragility of organic materials serves as a metaphor for human vulnerability, revealing how survival is shaped by uneven distributions of resources and systemic failure. Plants exist in a delicate equilibrium between growth and decline, demanding responsive, intentional care. Their resistance to control accentuates the tension between autonomy and dependence, reinforcing the ongoing weight of maintenance as a lived condition. By embedding living materials into the work, Vestige foregrounds the emotional and physical labor required to sustain life while challenging the illusion of self-sufficiency. 

The installation comprises multiple standalone plant sculptures—each unique in form and scale—connected to a central, seven-foot IV drip system. These organic forms fluctuate in health depending on their access to shared resources. A nearby table holds a CD player, headphones, and burned discs, encouraging viewers to engage with the sculptures by listening to various ambient soundscapes—rhythmic reminders that these forms are alive. This layered composition echoes the presence of living materials within the installation, reinforcing themes of interconnectedness and care. Through the integration of sound, scent, and touch, Vestige creates an immersive environment where viewers are invited to witness and reflect on the unseen labor required to preserve life. In this nature, Vestige reframes care not as a passive or private gesture, but as a political and embodied act of resistance.