Finland based artist Wilhelmina Ojanen is artist in residence at Brogården Kulturvæksthus in Ringkøbing-Skjern Kommune, Denmark for the AIR on the Edge residency in June 2023.
AIR on the Edge is a one-month international artist residency exchange between Denmark, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands and Serbia. It focuses on artists professional development, creating opportunities for artists to engage with rural communities and is rooted in rural places and cities on the edges of Europe.
During her residency, Wilhelmina shared her first impressions:
As I am writing this text I am a week into the residency at Brogården Kulturvæksthus in Ringkøbing-Skjern Kommune. I made my way to the residency from Tampere to Helsinki, from Helsinki to Copenhagen, and from Copenhagen to Ringkøbing. Coming from big cities to this calm harbour town, what struck me when I first arrived in Ringkøbing was the calmness and quiet of the place. Nature is all around here, and I feel as though I am immersed in nature.
Throughout the past week, I have explored the town and surrounding nature by walking around. I find that walking allows me to land in a new place and come to know the different landscapes of a place in a more grounded way. I have walked along the Ringkøbing Fjord, the forest areas surrounding the residency, as well as explored the lovely streets in town. The atmosphere in town is friendly. It has been lovely to experience that most people smile and greet whilst passing by. I have felt so welcomed to the residency by Dina and Anders from the municipality.
During the past week, I had the chance to meet the lovely people of the regional theatre - Teatret OM, and I got to use their studio space. It was very inspiring to hear about their history and productions.
I have noticed that there is a calmer pace of life here, and this is something that has also impacted my way of being here. In the city, I often tend to feel rushed and overstimulated. In residency, being close to nature and in silence, I notice that I am moving slower, I feel grounded, and I crave more rest. I feel as though being in residency gives me time and space to notice these sensations, and decide in each moment what feels most nourishing for my work and practice. This is something I hope to take home with me also after the residency.
I have met many animals: lots of snails and spiders, the cutest little dog, swans, pigeons and other creatures. I have thought about the delicacy and the vibrancy of all things, how one can easily miss things if one never quiets down to notice the life around oneself. My practice here has been to slow down and notice, move, listen and rest.
During residency, I am working and reflecting on a project about soil and care, and I feel that this residency gives me the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into this theme. I am able to process these different experiences and sensations through my body and through movement.
I am excited for what emerges in the upcoming weeks!
Follow Wilhelmina on her journey!
Instagram: wilhelminaojanendance
Wilhelmina shared some thoughts at the conclusion of her residency:
I am writing this on my last day at Brogården Kulturvæksthus, reflecting on the past month that I have spent here. I am feeling deeply appreciative for the time and space I had to focus on my work.
The AIR on the Edge residency has given me the opportunity to develop my ongoing project TIERRA/CURA (English: soil/care) in a new environment, and learn about the history and current situation of the soil in the area. I have come to understand the resilience of the local community and their connection to the surrounding nature.
It has been inspiring to meet fellow artists and learn about the cultural events that are organised in the area. It was also great to learn about the work of the cultural department of Ringkøbing-Skjern Kommune and to share my work through a workshop, as well as through a presentation and experiential sharing. It was lovely to meet the local youth council, to introduce myself and my work to them and hear more about their organisation.
TIERRA/CURA is a multi-year dance project about the body’s relationship with soil and care. During my time in the residency, I have been working on developing the project in various ways. I have been connecting to different places: the forests, parks and fjord. I have been working on different movement tasks through questions such as "How does the land move me today?”. I have been photographing my surroundings, noticing the animals, plants and beings. I have been delving into articles about soil care. For one week, I was lucky to have my partner visit and stay with me during the residency, and during that time we were able to work together on the project and photograph the process on film.
I will continue working on the project from August onwards alongside our working group. TIERRA/CURA vol. II dance performance will premiere 7th of December 2024, with 7 performances at Liikelaituri Studio of Pirkanmaa Dance Centre, Tampere, Finland.
The TIERRA/CURA working group includes choreographer-performer Wilhelmina Ojanen, dramaturg-performer-cinematographer Kardo Shiwan, musician Tapani Rinne, costume designer and space designer Mirei Kato, visual artist and space designer Lotta Hurnanen, and lighting designer Jaakko Sirainen.
Thank you to Dina Abu Hamdan, Anders Berg Jacobsen, Rebecca Molders, and the cultural department of Ringkøbing-Skjern Kommune.
Thank you to the AIR On the Edge programme for creating this kind of opportunity for artists.
Photographs by Kardo Shiwan
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