Virtual Land

"Virtual Land questions borders and ownership of land in the digital age. It references transforming the perception of nature and physical space in the new media age. Represents how technology forms memory though archiving online. These forms are mapping on physical objects which are records of walking routes.

Deeply informed by my cultural background, religion, and politics, my work investigates the concept of 'Self,' particularly how the 'Self' relates to the environment. Borrowing from ritual and nature, sometimes infusing humor, I integrate contradictory concepts into pieces that visualize struggles of the 'Self.' Recently I employed walking as a catalyst for my sculptures, which reference nomadic lifestyles, as well as colonialism. These subjects interest me due to the rising costs of housing in the Bay Area, and my displacement as an immigrant from Iran.

I record the routes of my walks with a mapping application to transform the resulting graphics into three dimensional objects. I use photography and video to document distinct moments of time spent within each space, and to reflect my emotional, psychological and subconscious experiences inspired by nature. I envision these forms as representations of virtual space where “living” takes place in my mind."

– Minoosh Zomorodinia