Art Residency 2025

Materials

Senja Sand, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

How much sand would you carry on a plane?

Sand artists are demanding with regard to their materials. Colour, granularity and other physical characteristics make every type of sand unique and lead to different artistic choices.

Sandøya Shell Selection, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

What if shells could speak?

In areas rich in mollusks, shells are abundant on the beach. The action of the waves over years and centuries, breaks the shells into light-coloured, calcareous sands. Scientists suspect that shells giggle when that happens.

Ersfjord Shell Selection, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

What do shells under the snow?

Dead shells hibernate forever. However, it is always a pleasure to meet the again in Spring, when the snow recedes. They stubbornly stay in the same place.

Arctic Shell Selection, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

What do shells in the ice?

In winter, a forgotten bottle left outside reveals some of the treasures that a little girl forgot last summer.

The Way of Water (Simon Franglen)

Sweet Water Shells, Photo: Judith Dubois, 2025, CC BY 4.0

What do shells in fresh water?

Often, the waters of polders in the Netherlands are dark and rich in organic matter. Surprisingly, these waters are also home to beautiful freshwater molluscs with their mother-of-pearl coloured shells.

At the habour, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Which piece of wood becomes art?

The boatyard in Sesimbra was the second source of fine art materials. What was once an old boat plank became a colourful support for sand paintings.

Colours of Sand, Photo: Judith Dubois, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Can you paint with sand?

We were surprised how sand can be used to re-enact Rembrandt paintings or to make objects like Earthphones, which mimic modern smartphones.

Fish glue, Photo: Judith Du Bois, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Can you paint with fish glue?

Apparatus

Research equipment, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

What happens when music, sand and technology come together?

Owing to the great flexibility of the materials, the results can be as diverse as a techno-sand symphony, sea-fado, or a beach rave party.

Vann (Leagus)

Research Design, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Where to put yourself?

The whole setup for co-creative work is complex. Details about the light, seating of the participants, their heights, team composition, availability of materials and music require detailed planning.

People, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Who will we become?

When we come together without knowing why we are here and to which ends, everything is possible. Sometimes the artist becomes a scientist, a staff member becomes a resident, a resident becomes a teacher and everyone becomes an artist.

-> Chuva no Mar (Carminho com Marisa Monte)

Water & People, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Where do our ideas about the ocean come from?

Everyday imaginaries and narratives about the ocean are produced and perpetuated by media that catch our attention. However, new ideas may arise when people and materials come together at places they won't meet otherwise.

As The Sun Shines (Justin Lee)

Relational Aesthetics, Photo: Lilli Mittner, 2025, CC BY 4.0

How to start?

Who or what takes the first step has a lot to say for the co-creative process. Once the sand is glued it is difficult to remove it. All creative ideas that may follow need to build upon previous steps.

Sand i en vik (Maria Kanegaard Trio)

Connecting through art-making, Still from video: Patricia/Sesimbra Maritime Museum, 2025, CC BY 4.0

Form where comes the impuls for co-creation?

Sometimes the materials on the table, the number of chairs or the light in the room invite people to do or not to do. A word, a movement, a sight, a smell or a colour can initiate wonder if we listen careful and follow them.

-> Ouve-se o Mar (Mafalda Veiga)