EL-D1 (Earth Lines - Dinétah 1)

Single Channel Video, Variable Dimensions

Steven J. Yazzie, 2023

In his expansive video work EL - D1 (Earth Lines - Dinétah 1), 2023, Yazzie uses aerial footage from Northern Arizona that follows fences, railways, mining sites, as well as rivers, streams, and other lines formed by nature. Though the footage is taken from various locations, Yazzie seamlessly connects them to create the effect of a contiguous landscape. In this meditative survey of the land, Yazzie examines the ways in which natural and human forces have shaped and etched into the earth over time and the overall effects of colonial violence on the landscape.

In Yazzie’s words, “the aerial view of the earth is a unique perspective for humans. It feels fleeting and I often experience a degree of emotional detachment when viewing the land in this way. This disconnected feeling could be considered a subtext in the work, and yet the ability to view the world from above is still so compelling to experience with its distinctive vantage points, patterns, relationships, and hidden narratives that often go unnoticed from standing on the ground. It allows me to reimagine an understanding of distance, space, and time in the environment.”