holding

THIS SELF-PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT INVESTIGATES AND CAPTURES WHAT IT MEANS TO HOLD AND BE HELD BY MOTHER NATURE. WHEN ROAD-TRIPPING TO HER GRANDFATHER’S HOMELAND OF SLOVENIA BACK IN 2022, BUKOVEC FELT A DEEP CONNECTION TO HER ANCESTRY AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHY SHE FEELS MOST AT HOME WHEN SURROUNDED BY NATURE. SHE HAS ALWAYS FELT A CALL TO CARE AND CONNECT TO THE LAND, WHILE QUESTIONING POWER SYSTEMS AND HER OWN PERSONAL IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

IN 2025, BUKOVEC BEGAN HER NOMAD JOURNEY OF LIVING ON THE ROAD FULL-TIME, WHILE EXPLORING STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS, PROTECTED FORESTS, AND ENGAGING IN WORKAWAY EXCHANGES BY CARING FOR THE LAND OF OTHERS, RECOGNIZING IN HER HEART THAT THIS IS ALL STOLEN, INDIGENOUS LAND.

BUKOVEC IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING FROM COMMUNITIES ROOTED IN INTENTION AND RECIPROCITY PRACTICES, THOSE WHO VALUE GIFT ECONOMIES, AND RELATE TO THE INTIMACY OF HOLDING. SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON PUBLISHING A BOOK THAT FEATURES HER WRITINGS, POETRY, AND MIXED MEDIA ART WORK TO CAPTURE THIS EXPERIENCE.

PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE COWLIZ TRIBE, THE KLICKITAT PEOPLE, AND THE QUILEUTE NATION.