I - THE BLACK WORK

A three-part performative series following stages of alchemical transformation through site-specific spatial interventions. I – The Black Work forms the first chapter and engages with the phase of dissolution — a moment of letting go and creating space for change.
The project took place in the desert landscape near Erfoud, where a freestanding triangular portal was constructed from locally sourced stone and clay (Tallacht), reinforced with two wooden rods. The structure was built over seven days at a remote site discovered during prior exploration — a small depression near a hill where dark rock emerged from the dunes. Positioned intentionally out of sight from the horizon, the portal avoided becoming a spectacle within an unfamiliar landscape.
The construction process followed the physical constraints of the environment. Clay gathered from dry riverbeds had to be transported daily to the site and applied in layers that required time to dry under the desert climate. Work was limited to the cooler hours of the day, as the midday sun made building impossible.
The portal functioned not only as an architectural object but as a performative device. On the final day of the three-week stay, a silent procession of eight participants moved together toward the structure. After watching the sunset from the hill, each person passed through the portal individually with the intention of consciously leaving something behind before crossing. The group then returned to the camp in silence, completing the ritual gesture that formed the core of the work.