An art photograph titled 'Navel' displays Cladonia Stellaris lichens, adorned with a raindrop, whose spot in the centre resembles the navel. This piece, captured in a Swedish forest, embodies the profound ancestral ties between me and these remarkable lichens.
“For the Chukchi people, my ancestors, the Cladonia Stellaris lichen is vital, serving as the primary nourishment for the reindeer they breed. The reindeer, in turn, are the lifeblood of the Chukchi, providing sustenance, clothing, and shelter. These lichens sustained my forebears, and now they inspire and rejuvenate me in my artistic journey. To me, lichens symbolise a deeply personal connection, akin to an umbilical cord linking past and present.
But looking wider, nature is a source of life for all of us. Nature is our navel”.