Inventing New World Disorder

Blueprints for Unanticipated Existence

Self Portrait (April 2024) Image Description: A black and white photograph of me sitting in the center of my bed. I am wearing a reconstructed white button down shirt composed with materials from the thrift store and a cuff made of armature wire wrapped around my wrist which is connected to my hand squeezing the shutter release and writing from bed, suspending multiple worlds in midair.

“These scalar experiments and mobile laboratories are speculative projects that envision new modalities of relation and offer blueprints for unanticipated existence.”

— Saidiya Hartman, “Crawlspace Manifold” (February 12, 2023), published in “Torkwase Dyson: A Liquid Belonging” (October 3, 2023), pg.14

Two doves come visit my room each day. Rover and Rain, as if to make me up, as if to get me to practice, as if I had to be reminded to return here where the clouds vibrate and blankets of cream coat my body¹. And glitter is on the wall. I put glitter on the wall and they come as if to look at it. I’m traini…