My final week in Iceland

Here I am sitting in the Highlands of Scotland, no snow around me, gentle winds and vivid colours, writing whilst reflecting back to my final week in Iceland which feels like a lifetime ago now.

It all seems like a slight dream. A completely intense and immersive experience which even though in 5 months felt like a lifetime it also went by way too fast and I’m now left thinking did that actually happen? All I can tell myself is yes, yes all of that beauty, wonderment and constant state of amazement I was in happened. Everything is different now, I went from living in the very north of Iceland shrouded yet protected by the most immense mountains I think I will ever witness, living with and working with a group of the most wonderful 23 artists from all over the globe in a town of only 800 people, remote yet absolutely amazing.

I’m now no longer living in that small town, I’m no longer able to go on a hike into the vast white mountainous regions of the north of Iceland, I’m no longer able to build an igloo out of the 10ft high mountain of snow outside my front door and I’m no longer able to simply be around some of the most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure to spend time with and get to know in such a short space of time.

However, this now is my next chapter, as much as it was hard to leave Olafsfjordur and embark back to another part of my life, it still happened. If I was to dwell on the experience in this way thinking I am no longer able to do any of that then I would drive myself crazy. It’s very true that I know I have found a place where I can say I have been at my most comfortable, happiest and relaxed however I can go back there. It will never be the same experience I had just in the past 5 months there but I can reflect on it in a way that will always be close to my heart, I experienced all of it in the far north of Iceland and I’m very happy to say it happened.

I spent my last week in Iceland walking within the many mountain valleys and hiking trails as much as possible. I found it imperative to be outside in that white bright luminous sky and landscape every minute and I have to say Iceland gave us all the send off we needed. The last few days in the North were full of clear blue skies, crystal arctic seas, flat calm surroundings and some of the most incredible displays of the aurora I have witnessed since my move to Iceland way back in October.

I had the utmost pleasure of being able to work as artist in residence with two separate organisations in the far north, Nes and Listhus. I have learned a lot from my experience, I have met many many  like minded people , I have made an enormous amount of art work, I have captured  well over 10,000 or more photographs, I have seen the Northern Lights purple and bright green over the whole sky in the North and most importantly within all of that I experienced a dark winter in the wild untouched part of Iceland and I felt it all, I can definitely say it has changed me for the better;  I survived it and and I absolutely loved it.

Iceland I will be back, your strength your people, your culture, your ethics and inspiring forward thinking lifestyle is something I am in awe of still to this day.

See you very soon.

 

 

Week 20

20 weeks now of living in Iceland.

I can´t really believe it, the level of time here is something I’ve never experienced before, the days seem to be long yet the overall residency has flown in and I still feel like I’m getting used to place and finding amazement in the details of every single day.

I’ve spent my second last week here preparing for and exhibiting my last show as part of the Listhus Skammdegi Festival, took a day trip to the nearby town of Dalvik situated just a few miles south of our town along the fjord and overall immersed myself in the place as much as possible. My last show as part of the Listhus Festival was a collaborative exhibition with my fellow housemate, studio pal and overall wonderful friend Jade De Robles Rossdale. You can view some of her work over at her website here. Our exhibition was titled ´Reaction to winter´and seemed fitting that we exhibited our work together as we shared our studio throughout  the residency. Here are some photos from the show.

I´m sitting here writing this and realising I only have a week left in Iceland, I recall leaving Scotland all the way back in October and having no idea what my experience would be like, what type of people I would meet and if I would enjoy living through the dark winter in Iceland. This experience has surpassed all of my expectations, Iceland is absolutely unreal, a place of wonderment and a place that will always lie heavy in my heart. I´m going to keep this blog short and just show you some of my images from one of my last weeks here in the far north. I’m also going to spend my final week here enjoying it and stop dwelling on leaving and just make the most of this incredible country!

My next blog will be coming to you from Scotland next week after I´ve spent my last week here!

Arctic Circle Expedition 2016

SO the big news everyone is that I have been invited among a select group of artists and scientists worldwide to participate in The Arctic Circle Residency Programme in October 2016 for three weeks around the remote and northern Archipelago of Svalbard. I found out I was selected for this unique trip back in June of last year but it´s only recently that I have started to prepare for this amazing trip and start to plan the funding side of things!

Arctic Circle Website

I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity as not only is it a place that will deeply influence and enrich my practice, it is also a place I have wanted to venture to for a long time because of the unique landscape and impressive geological wonders. For three weeks the other residents and I will sail together on an ice class barkentine tallship exploring Svalbard, a High Arctic archipelago just ten degrees from the North Pole, creating, collaborating, observing and documenting as we go.

This residency is incredibly important to me as it is in Svalbard where the effects of progressive climate change are the most apparent and where wildlife and the sea ice is significantly under threat. It is a place of wonder yet fragility and I find it important for my practice to record the shifting of the landscapes and the effects that global warming is inflicting on the Arctic.

I aim to record, document, and build up a large body of new drawings/ paintings, prints and photographs all made on the voyage through the Arctic and all directly connected to the place and what I observe whilst on the expedition. I hope to instill love for the landscapes in people so they too can be inspired to conserve this place that is significant to our future as a whole.

Here is one of the press releases with some more information on my upcoming trip! Dundee University

Anyway, the reason for this post is that, I NEED ALL OF YOUR HELP!

Even though I’ve been awarded this unique residency, I still must raise funds for expenses related to this expedition. I must raise £4,300 to join the residency which will cover all of the expenses on the expedition and secure my place. The remaining funding will go towards travel costs to and from Longyearben, cold weather clothing and art materials which will be used to make new work on the residency.

By supporting me on this project, not only will you be investing in me and an important expedition but you will also receive unique benefits by funding this project! Any donation from you will go a long way in realising this opportunity.

To support me and invest in this significant project please click on this link for my indiegogo campaign and watch the video!

Reaching The Pole

If you are interested in helping but unable to donate, please share this with your friends and social circles. Any additional exposure I can get is an immense help!

Thank you all so much in advance!

 

Sweeney’s Bothy – A window out to the West

My most recent project to start off 2015 was heading off to the Isle of Eigg (one of Scotland’s beautiful Small Isles) and working as Artist in Residence in Sweeney’s Bothy with the Bothy Project. My residency was the very first of the year January 3rd – 10th 2015. However I ended up being on the Island a lot longer than expected, the wild weather off the West Coast of Scotland brought in gale force winds hail storms and heavy snow, I really loved getting to spend a lot longer on the Island though!

 

My intentions for the Residency were to think about the layers of the place, the formations, textures and the geological immensity and presence/ relevance of it through the dramatic surroundings and changes in the light and colour.

The experience from spending a week in the amazing Sweeney’s Bothy was just incredible, I had spent time in residence at the Inshriach Bothy last January http://www.thebothyproject.org/ellis-oconnor/ however the location and surroundings were completely different!

The Isle of Eigg is very special to me anyway, I had spent sometime there in December and had really connected with the place and people. On arrival I had already noticed that this was me in my element, a connection to a true place, a real natural horizon, an unwavering sense of what is important and my senses were already re tuned to the nature and vast mountainous areas around me. Being there on Eigg, with the framing of Rums impressive mountains that were constantly changing every minute, the Fog lifting and recapturing my attention of the place, I knew it was where I was meant to be.

 

I spent the 11 days that I was on Eigg, exploring the Island (weather dependent) working away in the comfort of the inspiring Bothy with the backdrop of the dark basalt formations, building up a large body of new drawings, photographs and prints, roaming around speaking to the locals and re learning to slow down and connect with the place. I always realise on reflection of being within a place that is wild, remote and sublime. You’re thoughts become quieter, an open mind which mimics the open vastness of the horizon around you and knowing what it is you truly want to achieve away from the constant stimulation and pointless distractions of the outside modern world.

I leave on the Tuesday 13th when the weather settles, 11 days on the Island, longer than expected but on the Ferry back over to the mainland I find myself thinking I have to spend longer here. I have connected with this place in a way I have never connected with an Island before, walking all over, learning how to slow down and leave out all existential matters; just be here present in the place and matter. I feel we all have to do this now and then.

Against the weather warnings, and the wild west coast, I found comfort and sanctuary within the place, mentally and physically.

I will forever remember that window out to the west.

To read a more detailed account of my writings from my time spent at the Bothy Project on the Isle of Eigg please click here:

http://www.thebothyproject.org/ellis-oconnor-window-out-to-the-west/