Domus Hortus

A site specific installation of unfired clay that transforms an original cement column of the Miami Downtown Historic Post Office into a pillar of tropical foliage and geometry, resulting in a living clay sculpture emerging directly from the floor.

Garden House

Looking specifically to the landscape of South Florida, I discovered different details of its natural history. I studied the common plants found around Miami and cast their leaf textures- species of palms, mangroves, tropical fruit trees and invasive sword ferns in silicone molds. Pressing clay and wrapping the forms a concrete column in the wet clay, the pieces were held in place by a wire framework as it began to dry. Fragile and unfired, the work existed for one week before it was subsequently broken down with water and removed. It’s ephemerality hints at the introduction, eradication and regeneration of plant life in Miami- and the relationship of people to the environment throughout Florida’s history.

This work was exhibited at the Downtown Historic Post Office during Art Basel Week in Miami. Many buildings in the Historical District were constructed during the Florida land boom of the 1920’s when Miami experienced rapid population growth. Now abandoned, this beautiful building itself is a relic. I chose the pillar for the site of this work to reference the collapse of imperial systems, Ancient Greek and Roman architecture, shell grottos from myth and the ash-covered city of Pompeii.

Watch the life cycle of site-specific and ephemeral work “Domus Hortus” here.