INSTALLATIONS

OUT OF THE ASHES (DAS CINZAS)

2026, Carlos Machado Museum. Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal | Grounded in historical research and material heritage, this interpretive installation responds to stories of catastrophe and adaptation in the history of the Azores. The culmination of an eight-month residency at the Carlos Machado Museum, this project was made possible by a Fulbright grant with additional support from the Azores Regional Government and the Luso-American Foundation (FLAD).

The Azores archipelago has long been shaped by catastrophe in the form of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, storms, epidemics, crop blights, among other events. For this project, I selected six catastrophes—three earthquakes, two volcanic eruptions, and one agricultural collapse—that are considered to be among the most era-defining and transformative. Each is positioned chronologically on a timeline that runs across the gallery.

For each catastrophe, I chose a theme that connected its ecological and historical dimensions. For example, the theme “SUCCESSION”, selected for the 1957–58 eruption of Capelinhos Volcano on Faial Island, refers both to the ecological process of sequential colonization of barren land by plants, and to the migration of families to the United States and Canada following earlier Azorean diasporas. With the help of the museum staff, I selected and assembled objects from the museum's diverse collections—including natural history, ethnography, archaeology, religious art, and photography—to support this narrative. A central curatorial goal was to unite these distinct collections into a coherent narrative bridging human and “natural” histories.

Each event is further interpreted through a series of drawings—inspired by the visual languages of biology and ecology—to depict key environmental transformations. Another collection of drawings, placed at different points along the timeline, highlights the Azores’ connection with other parts of the world (via empire, migration, species exchange, etc.) and how these connections shaped both vulnerability and recovery.

Embryonic Growth Chart of São Miguel Island

“ESTABLISHMENT” / Vila Franca do Campo Earthquake (1522)

The growth of human population on São Miguel island, the decline of native forest cover, and the replacement of Vila Franca do Campo by Ponta Delgada as capital.

Phylogenetic Tree of Endemic Species in Furnas

“SPECIATION” / Volcanic Eruption at Furnas (1630)

The importance of laurissilva (laurel forests) in the Furnas valley to endemic species of birds, as well as humans.

Anatomical Cross-Sections of São Jorge Island

“TRANSITION” / ‘Mandate of God’ Earthquake (1757)

An ‘anatomical’ drawing of São Jorge island, showing the geologic substrata and new (arable, productive) lands formed after a massive earthquake.

Propagation of New Cultures on São Miguel Island

“DIVERSIFICATION” / Orange Crop Blights (1870s)

The decline of the orange monopoly on São Miguel island and its replacement with diverse imported crops.

Succession Diagram of Capelinhos Eruption on Faial Island

“SUCCESSION” / Capelinhos Eruption (1957-58)

A chronological chart showing the formation of new land, human evacuation and migration, the impact of ashfall on agriculture, and ecological succession.

New England

The connection of the Azores to southern New England has its origins in 19th century whaling expeditions, which established the first diaspora in the region. Later events like the Capelinhos eruption (1957-58) saw more Azoreans settle here.

Two-Headed Cow

An iconic specimen from the Machado Museum’s collection, this two-headed calf represents the dairy industry as a point of connection between the Azores and the California diaspora

Hawaii

The “evolution” of São Miguel island into Hawaii (the big island) and Maui, two destinations of Azorean emigration beginning in the 19th century.

A seven-foot long sculpture, titled Raft of Pumice (Azores Archipelago) forms the centerpiece of the installation. As an abstract representation of the archipelago, the nine islands are depicted in pumice rocks held together by a latticework of bamboo, roughly indicating tectonic boundaries and maritime routes. An additional three perpendicular bamboo segments rising from the ground represent the three capitals of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, as well as their collective volcanic origins. The entire structure resembles a ship and is (theoretically) capable of floating, suggesting navigation through adversity via archipelagic interdependence.

An eight-minute film, titled Assembly of an Archipelago, juxtaposes footage from the assembly of a half-size model of the sculpture alongside “chronological” footage from the sites of the six catastrophes. Below is an excerpt, depicting footage from Vila Franca do Campo (site of a 1522 earthquake) and Furnas (site of a 1630 eruption).