Komboloi (worry beads)

Overview

Komboloi (worry beads) is a collaborative video poem that merges climate data with experimental film and animation techniques to explore anxiety in the era of climate change. Central to the film is the symbolic use of worry beads—a cross-cultural object used to calm anxiety—crafted from ice formed from local water sites. These beads embody the fragility of our climate and serve as a visual and thematic focal point. The project weaves together 16mm analogue footage, stop motion, cyanotype on film, and other processes, embracing chance, while echoing the unpredictable consequences of a changing planet. Guided by a Fluxus-inspired procedural poem and an original musical score, Komboloi invites reflection on ecological grief, impermanence, and the urgent need for both individual and collective action.