Elena Yu

Cemetery lichen landscapes, 2025

Linen, printed chiffon, and batting

15.25" x 15.5" x 3"

Yu's ongoing project Perpetual Care asks us to look closely at the lichens growing on cemetery stones — overlooked, often mistaken for dirt, but quietly thriving. By stitching lichen-covered surfaces into quilts, she asks what it means to truly care for a place, and who gets to decide what belongs. elenadaojingyu.com