SETTLING ROOTS

•

SETTLING ROOTS examines the experiences of belonging and not belonging through the concept of cultural identity - in what ways do these different experiences manifest, how are they constructed, how do they feel and how do they settle into a material form, that can be observed and understood by others?

According to the Board of Education, identity is defined as a person's self-image, perception of oneself. Cultural identity, on the other hand, is usually associated with the feeling of belonging to a group that behaves and speaks the same way, and whose worldview is based on a common value base, past and traditions (Vihreälehto, 2023). My own experiences of cultural identity often show as a feeling of loneliness, a longing for community, an interest in traditions and a need to identify with and understand my place in the long timeline of existence. The feelings are something that feel sacred as well as mundane, something momentary in the present as well as something strongly connected to memories - collective and personal. They can be hard to describe in words – for me they are something very fundamental, defining my worldview and relationship with nature. On the other hand, they feel unsettled and constantly changing. Through the installation and its material expression, I aim to approach these subjective and meaningful, but often elusive and vague experiences in a way that comprehensibly enables to deal with the topic universally and without an attachment to any languages.

SETTLING ROOTS installation was realized during my master's exchange studies at Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan, October 2023 - January 2024 as an artistic part of my master's thesis at Aalto University. The shape / structure of the installation is based on my memories of the Kamidana, a Shinto home altar intended for everyday worship of kamis, gods/spirits, built by my late Japanese grandfather. I never got to meet my grandfather, so for me the Kamidana became the only tangible thing that symbolized his essence and served as proof of his existence. The wooden Kamidana contained a built-in light that, when lit, illuminated the magical structure from within. After my grandmother passed away, Kamidana was disposed of according to tradition by burning in a nearby shrine. With the loss of my grandparents and the kamidana, I felt to have lost all links to my unknown heritage. Over time, the need to strengthen the connection to my Japanese roots has only grown - I had to build my own version of Kamidana.

I like to work with natural fiber materials, as well as other found textile materials. SETTLING ROOTS contains among other things my own hair, parts of utility plants traditionally used in agriculture in Japan and Finland (such as oat and rice grain), as well as locally collected fibers from harmful invasive plant species (such as Japanese Rose, Lupine and Canadian golden rod). Through invasive species, I have found an interesting and unexplainable kinship. As their name suggests, harmful invasive plant species are thought of and seen in a negative light, depending on where they have been transported by humans and ended up taking root. It seems contradictory that these plants are considered and perceived as something so negative in relation to others. At the same time, I understand that invasive species can indicate serious threats to the balance and ecosystems of new environments. What about people? Could SETTLING ROOTS serve as some sort of metaphor for my conflicted feelings about my transcontinental heritage?