May-June-August 2022, Sjösala, Östra Ämtervik, Värmland Performance / Video / Installation/ Fika
Created within Rural Movements residency on Andra Energier/ Alternatives Energies concept in Östra Ämtervik, Värmland , Sweden.
Rural Movements is a collaboration between Alma Löv Museum, Riksteatern, Region Värmland and Riksteatern Värmland. Presented at Sjösala, Östra Ämtervik, Värmland
The project is Inspired by the Värmland region/Östra Ämtervik, build on the main concept of the residency - Alternatives energies and consist in the result of the meeting between the artist and the place.
The work is inspired by the electric fences that are so present in the region, by the traces of the mooses that I was looking for so hard, by the fact that I've got electrified by the fence, and many other things from the region. In the same time it is an invitation to a special Fika. Fika is a Swedish concept, moment, state of mind, state of body, cultural reference, practiced from very long time. Basically it means taking a short time during the day for drinking a cup of coffee and eating something sweet, that means to spoil yourself.
The project is about body and energy. My body, your body, their body. When I say their body I refer to any other body that is not mine or yours, including animals, the other people, the other presences and absences, the things we see and the things we don't, the imaginary ones and their energy. The visible and not too visible worlds. Between you and me there is electricity, and it will always be. Exercising and deepening the energy skills.
I enjoyed my stay in Rural Movements residency, researching and walking the forest, the grass, the studio, the lakes, the animals, the trails, the birds, the smells, myself, the special light, the people I've met, the graves, the ancient cultures that left signs in the natural landscape, the life above and below, the differences and similarities in landscape and natural appearances in the months I visited the place, the differences and similarities within myself, the energy. I am glad and honored I entered the fascinating history and universe of the Värmland region. Revisiting the concept of dansbana and of the social gatherings around a stage and a place for dancing. Finding out about the concept of fika and testing it. Wishing to see a moose in the forest, a real moose ( there are no moose in my country) looking for it, finding its traces and seeing at least one. Hiding small little treasures into the forest so you can find them later on or never. Hiding as an animal ( under its own skin) being ( as) an animal. Being in the skin of an animal. Revisiting in august the secret places from June I couldn't enter as deep as before or not at all because of the vegetation that was grown meanwhile. Going closer to the cows, so close, feeling their strong soundy breathing. Hiding in the skin of an animal, being in the skin of an animal. Because humans, nature and animals are relatives. The month of August is more mature and ripe than the month of May or June. And so am I. I left some energy of my presence in the places I went and I grabbed some energy from them. Energy is something that you only can feel, but sometimes it could be also visible. That is what I am trying to do.