In 2017, Yumna Al-Arashi’s father was forbidden to enter the United States due to “Executive Order 13769”. With the escalation of the migration crisis, his freedom of movement disappeared simply because he held a Yemeni passport. As he was unable to travel to the USA or to Europe, Yumna asked her father to send her ceramic vases by mail to enable a physical exchange between two places and two people that is only possible by mail.
“Salt” is an ever-changing, developing sculpture that stemmed from a discussion between father and daughter at a distance and over time. After Yumna received the handmade clay pots, she activated and cleaned the porous objects with salt water. Over time, they have changed in appearance. Since her childhood, salt has played a pivotal role in Al-Arashi’s family life – salt is lauded for its ability to remove negative energies. In essence, her father’s mailing of objects with similar properties to the human body has become a protest of movement, and Yumna’s acceptance of them an act of care.