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

Video installation, artist book/photobook, 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 feminine 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.

By focusing on materials sourced from the region—raw silk and cotton—the installation underscores the historical interdependence between human industry and natural resources. These materials, cultivated using water that might have otherwise sustained the Aral Sea, symbolize the environmental toll of unchecked human activity. The work bridges personal memory and collective history, with the artist’s connection to the region and her grandmother’s unspoken experiences of labor in the cotton fields becoming integral to its narrative.