27 Washes

27 Washes, 2017-2019, 2022, duration 3 minutes and 43 seconds

I filmed “27 Washes” from 2017 to 2019 while living alone in rural Malawi and sharing a small courtyard with three other families. Over 38 hours of footage, I recorded weekly hand-washing sessions. The chronological four-minute edit shows short slices of life from each wash: seasons change, clothing rotates, neighbors chime in, all the while my chichewa and washing abilities improve. Underscoring routine, shared space, and gradual learning.

A translation of the Chichewa language in this video can be found in the description on Vimeo.

Excerpt from 27 washes live performance, 2022

The domestic act of washing one’s clothing has been a common thread throughout my work, including a live performance as a washing machine during my undergraduate career. However, these performances developed new meaning after learning how to wash clothing by hand during my 3 years in rural Malawi. The live performance of a single washing in Denton, TX visually connected my experiences and cataloged the growth and deepening of my practice.