Healing Powers of Walking: Bodies and Freedom
Field Notes
Tolne, Denmark
I am currently in residence in Northern Denmark, through Workaway, one month in, out of two. This is a documentation on my time spent here, the place, as well as artwork in process.
Reasons I travel are to feel, discover and learn within each moment that life throws at me. To breathe in unfamiliar air and exhale fresh fear! It gives me bright energy and drive. From sharing skills and ideas, to developing them is a valuable experience. New places bring fresh feelings, endless possibilities and a certain kind of contact into peoples lives shaped by living in certain places. To invite searching. There is value in learning to relate to one another, to meet new people, to hear their stories - it helps to challenge myself as an artist as well as expanding my practice.
Living in Tolne, Denmark brings a heightened awareness of the natural surroundings that are evidently so present. To reconnect with the world as well as to recognise oneself as a part of nature that we inhabit but also forget. To Where I feel reassurance in the light of open space, these feelings and sounds. The movement of nature to the movement of our bodies, addressing the state of the world, and the state we live in.
Exploring the importance of quiet contemplation in a chaotic state of the world.
The coast of the North Sea, in Rubjerg
Walking allows these observations.
Something so natural, quiet, and slowness, allowing my mind to drift
We are entering an era of closing borders, and to walk freely is a privilege, not shared across the world. Walking is one of the most basic acts that human beings posses. Exploring what makes us deflated, agitated, overwhelmed and unbalanced in this strange time means more than ever, we need be expressive. The things that we do, matter. Growing plants matter. Cutting down on meat and dairy matter. Freeing love matters.
Where we are in a time overloaded on information, this builds an urge for simplifying, the essential bases of life.
Time spent outside is more time making work. I want to feel the weather as well as hear its sounds and movements, to carry it’s expressions, to rise within my work. Being in the open environment helps me to build up a relationship with nature, to open up mentally, to listen and see what is really there. The work evolves from this exploration and connection.
With an increased amount of thinking time, my thoughts are of utmost importance to the process. They ease into a rhythm that flows with the surrounding wilderness. Nature allows thoughts to become simpler, further away from distractions and closer to realising what I want to accomplish. To look past what’s in front of me, aka, a phone screen, and allowing the worlds embracing arms to shape me.
