Making a Mountain, 2024
Image: Devika Bilimoria
ON DURATION, curated by Dr Raegan Truax at AADK Spain
September 2024 residency
This work took place in Salinas, during a 48-hour group activation session around Blanca
Residents: Maggie Asbjørnsen, Sarah Bild, Devika Bilimoria, Sarah Bird, Giuli Grippo, Rachel James, Adam Man, Chaiworawat Nattaphon and Knut Olaf Sunde.
I wanted us to build a mountain on my body. To place fragments of once hot liquid earth, imbued with an intention/offering, upon my flesh.
During these two days of artist’s activating body and site, I found my heart incarnate as a rock. I held it to my ribs, carried on long walks, ate dinner with it, I took it to bed. As we silently walked into Salinas to the special site of an old salt quarry, I asked my fellow residents to collect a rock or two along the way–to hold it to their chest if they felt inclined.
Once we arrived at the location, we unbagged by the time-ful salt house, and then stood facing one another upon a clearing. I guided everyone to place a rock they had selected to their chest, to close their eyes and give something to the rock through breath and thought. Memories, grief, anxiety, concepts. I explained that I was interested in the duration of a mountain becoming skyward and invited them to make a mountain with me.
In my practice, I have attempted to cover my body with rocks while laying as still as possible. In this activation, my aim was for other people to cover my body and be aware to the addition under the weight of a mound of rocks, becoming a mountain, sinking deeper into sensation and the ground. It was fascinating to see how a group of people caring people responded to the task of
placing a rock on my my body and then adding rocks upon rocks.
All images below taken by Laura Turpin.