Exploring the island of Ærø
I’ve just returned from the first ACO. Residency – Denmark Edition.
I spent seven days on the small island of Ærø, off the southern coast of Fyn. Around 20 km long and 6 km wide, I spent my days cycling the quiet coastal roads, photographing the landscape and enjoying the warm midsummer air.
I stayed with Geir, who has lived in a former Second World War radar station since 2015. Over the years, the building has had many lives: first as a military site, then as a refugee camp for women and children from Poland and West Germany after the war, and later as a summer camp before becoming his home.
We spent our time together sorting through plans for his upcoming projects, talking about the island's history, and visiting friends for morning coffee and cake. For a brief week, it was nice to feel part of a small community, while also finding a balance between a few productive days of making and time to think.
This was the first of what I hope will become a continuing series of residencies. I'm beginning to realise that the key ingredients are a balance of making, being and exploring. Having a clear purpose gives structure to each day, while leaving enough space for unexpected conversations, observations and ideas to emerge. It keeps my mind from drifting into what I should be trying to achieve, and instead allows me to be fully present in the place I'm in.
