Ontological Symbolism and Cognitive Space: How Symbols Shape Us

I have built a sculpture that I can inhabit, rooted in my belief that we are symbolic creatures. As someone who is part Native American, the symbolism of the desert holds profound significance for me. This installation, which serves as both my home and studio, is based on principles of ontological design. It embodies the essence of minimalism, drawing from the sparse beauty of the desert.

In crafting this space, I am guided by the understanding that the environments we build shape us in return. Spaces act as mirrors to our minds, mediating the content of our consciousness and informing the way we think. Through mindful self-inquiry and the power of intentional design, I have created a dwelling that not only houses my body but also shapes my mood and mind. This space is more than a structure; it is an extension of thought, a vessel for new ways of seeing and thinking.

By integrating found objects like bones and remains of animals, I explore our relationship with the environment, where death and life are intertwined as natural processes. The walls of the installation contain books that resonate with my ethos, along with knives, bones, and even GPS technology. This fusion of the primal and the modern creates a dialogue between humanity and the desert’s elements, blurring the lines between dwelling and sculpture. Through this space, one can feel the raw presence of the desert, while also recognizing how the spaces we inhabit shape the minds that dwell within them. Spaces, like thoughts, engineer our ways of being.