Green Cemetery is a syntropic garden and a short film that originated when my mother and I relocated to Alto Paraíso de Goiás, situated in the heart of the biodiverse Cerrado biome, known for its rich savannas. Despite its ecological significance, the Cerrado faces severe challenges due to the impact of agribusiness. Aware of the vast expanse of soybean fields surrounding us, my mother and I embarked on the transformation of our small degraded plot into a thriving agroforestry system. Concurrently, we collaborated on the creation of a film inspired by our experiences of living in this environment. The garden we cultivated attracts birds and pollinators, serving as both a refuge and a source of food for a diverse range of beings. At its center stands a multi-story vertical monument, which serves as both a fountain and a memorial. This memorial is adorned with portraits of relatives, which gradually decompose over time with the growth of mycelia. The film tells the story of Lavina, who retires and fulfills her dream of purchasing her own home. In the face of weathered soil where not even grass could grow, Lavina embarks on the planting of an agroforestry garden, offering each seedling and seed as a tribute to a loved one.

Green Cemetery was conceived during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, blending the physicality of backyard soil with the virtual realms of the Changing Landscapes residency and SAIC advisors.

This film emerged within the intimate and restricted confines of our domestic environment, shared with my mother, Lavina, my boyfriend, Ricardo, my cats, Ubu and Bume, specters, an array of other beings, and my sound collaborator Ramiro Galas.