Silica sand is an essential raw material for semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductors are the physical foundation of artificial intelligence systems and the industrial base of global technology corporations. As demand for AI and digital technologies continue to grow, the extraction of high-purity silica sand intensifies, concentrating mining activities to specific regions.

One of the most significant of these regions is North Carolina in the United States. North Carolina is not only a major producer of high-purity silica sand, but also a region with forests and landscapes of high ecological value. However, satellite images of mining areas reveal clear signs of continuous extraction, including discoloration and deformation of the terrain, which stand in stark contrast to the surrounding environment.

In this work, I chose to use these satellite images without manipulation, presenting them as direct records of altered landscapes. I overlaid the satellite imagery onto a background composed of shopping bags from electronic products and printed materials such as articles, journals, and promotional texts related to AI and CPUs. This composition places everyday images of technological consumption alongside the damaged environments that sustain them.

By creating cyanotypes, a nature-based photographic method that responds to light, water, and time, I aimed to produce a narrative contrast between technological imagery and natural processes. The blue stains and bleeds act as traces of extraction and accumulated time.