Fragile Colony

As an immigrant, I find myself questioning my role in America's history of colonization. I have been studying maps and city plans, such as Giovanni Battista Boazio's View of Santo Domingo from 1589, to better understand the human intention of conquering nature and creating perfect cities. I am struck by the way these works depict nature as wild and mysterious, often exaggerating the size of animals and dense forests.

To explore these ideas further, I created a miniature town using materials commonly used in architecture, such as clay, plaster, and wood. I projected a video of plants and insects over the piece to create a visual hierarchy that emphasizes the fragility of humans in comparison to the natural world. Through this art piece, I hope to delve deeper into the complex relationship between humans and nature and examine our attempts to control and manipulate the environment.