PROVIDE SPACE:"This Island Is a Body,"
Opening Thursday 26th September 6-9 pm
tea and cake will be provided

This Island Is a Body is a meditation on humans' relationship to place, transcending western ideologies to understand ways of relating to the land intimately as two breathing bodies. Filmed on super 8 on the Outer Hebrides, the work draws inspiration from the Gaelic concept of dùthchas and Hawaiian kuleana to explore and question how to relate to a place beyond colonialism.

In this project, time is envisioned as a spiral, weaving together past, present, and future. It examines how stories and landscapes interact and how personal and collective experiences shape our understanding of sustainability and belonging.

The title reflects the intention to re-give the land its own personhood, acknowledging its right to be perceived as a living entity with its own presence and voice. This project challenges viewers to think deeply about the ethical dimensions of their interactions with the environment and poses critical questions about their role in shaping a future that honors both the land and its ancestors.


Specifically this work was the beginning of a lifetime of research for the artist to understand the historical presence of colonialism in the land and in humans. What would happen if we shift to understanding land as a living body? How do I rewrite this narrative in my own head? How do we advocate for a place that is not our land, that is stolen land?


With many thanks to Jon Macleod, everyone at Grinneabhat including all the passersby who stopped for a tea, An Lanntair and the writers who joined me for an afternoon of reflection, the Bragar community and the island for holding me.

This project was supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries WA.