Work in progress, 2023-2026 (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan)

Video, artist book/photobook, textile, objects and site-specific sculptures

The Aral Sea, once ranked as the world's fourth-largest lake in the 1950s, has nearly dried out in the present day. During an unplanned stopover in Aralsk, the artist expected to feel despair and depression due to the ecological devastation but was instead struck by the surprising beauty that had emerged from the desert.

The project revolves around themes of tenderness, emptiness, resilience, and hidden life—qualities that reflect a distinctly female gaze on landscapes burdened by ecological crises. This quiet, introspective approach builds emotional connections rather than rational arguments, aiming to highlight environmental issues through a softer, more reflective lens.

This photobook began as a reference for the project but evolved into a standalone artwork. It captures the project's essence through a combination of imagery, archival materials, drawings, and text. A reimagined edition, planned for 2025-2026, will build on this idea with additional drawings and ecopoetry.

This textile installation reflects the transformation of the Aral Sea through a speculative lens. The artist reimagines Kazakh felting techniques using raw silk and cotton grown with water from rivers that once fed the sea. Collecting cotton became a way to connect with her grandmother’s unspoken memories of childhood labor in Uzbek cotton fields. The work zooms in on the invisible life that once thrived—algae, plankton—rendered in tactile textures that invite touch. The felting process mirrors the entanglement of ecological and cultural histories, encouraging viewers to engage sensorially and reflect on how traditions can preserve the memory of ecological loss.