Ohutkan:Genesis

The art of Dakota quillworking (porcupine quill embroidery) is directly linked to the Cosmological Quillworker, who weaves the fabric of reality. By quillworking, we connect directly to the generative powers of the universe when we record, represent, and (re)create the fabric of reality for our Peoples.

In my process of digital quillworking, I use the recordings of songs and stories to visually encode traditional knowledge into larger patterns and designs. Ohutkan:Genesis is generated from the hex data of the Bitcoin genesis block, overlaid with soundwave files of Dakota thunder and seed planting songs. These songs mark the beginning of the Dakota New Year, a time of rebirth and renewal, as well as honor the tradition of seed-keeping, which preserves ancestral memory, and takes on a new meaning in the digital age.