Cities of You

System #11: Niaoutara (Mariana B)

20 x 16", Gouache and Pen on Paper

Niaoutara is the energy that flows in and out of the home. At the foundation of any household, a tunnel is created that drives straight down through the earth, leading to a massive underground reservoir. If you move from your home, it is said that the energy in the walls, the appliances, and the furniture escapes through the floorboards and finds its way to a new home. The demolition of a home creates a fissure in the Niaoutara system, in which the energy from breach leaks into the atmosphere. Constructing a home with your hands leaves a special kind of energy that does not move, but rests in the wood and nails.