Guided by Reflections  (2022)

7ft x 5.5ft, Wood, Wood Burning, Dirt, Sunflower Seeds, Augmented Reality 

Princess Point, Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton, ON

There is a celestial plane that exists far beyond Mother Earth called Sky World, where Hodinöhsö:ni’ people originated from. Guided by Reflections takes the form of the Hodinöhsö:ni’ skydome symbolizing these two worlds.

Mother Earth is depicted as a wooden dome, embodying the ever-lasting life cycle and everything growing on earth. It is adorned with the sky dome design, which is commonly found in Hodinöhsö:ni’ beadwork, pottery and textiles. 

Using augmented reality, the Celestial Tree grows from the top of the dome offering a glimpse into Sky World and healing to the waters below. The reflections of Earth and Sky World on the water provide moments of mindful pause.

Guided by Reflections is a reminder that everything in the natural world is interconnected. We have a collective responsibility to honour and care for the land and water to ensure the continuance of future generations and other-than-human relations.

Nya:węh/ thank you to Exzacht Construction, Frank Blum and Joshua Las for their kind contributions. 

Generously supported by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Ontario Arts Council, Hamilton's Placemaking and City Enrichment fund. 

Photos by Cody King