Mariana Castillo Deball: Dead, I Am Still Paper

Between 2010 and 2019, the Domplatz in St. Pölten became an archaeological site, uncovering Roman and medieval ruins, along with a large cemetery containing around 22,000 human remains. After the excavation, the site was closed, leaving only the outline of a former basilica.
Mariana Castillo Deball’s installation, “Dead, I Am Still Paper”, reflects on the memory and materiality of this square, inspired by personal items and funerary ornaments found during the dig. Her work explores the fragility of materials like fabric and paper, which disintegrated over time, linking them to the history of paper production and the transformation of old clothes into paper in 14th-century Europe.
Deball’s piece encourages viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between preservation and loss, and the stories that everyday objects tell about our history and identity.