As part of the Island Connect programme, artists Sara Reye from Tenerife and Nanna Koppel & Marco Colocci from Denmark recently presented the outcomes of their artistic residency at BIRCA – Bækkelund International Residency Center for Artists.
During the residency, the artists explored distinct yet equally compelling themes through research, experimentation, and audience engagement.
Sara Reyes: Speculative Dance and Shared Dramaturgy
Artist Sara Reyes developed a project centred on speculative dance, inviting audiences to become active participants in the creative process. Rather than presenting a fixed narrative, Reyes encouraged audience members to contribute to and influence the dramaturgical direction of the work. This collaborative approach challenged traditional performer-audience relationships and opened new possibilities for collective storytelling through movement.
Nanna Koppel & Marco Colocci: The Mermaid as a Symbol of Environmental Change
Artists Nanna Koppel and Marco Colocci explored the figure of the mermaid as a powerful symbol of the sea and its ongoing transformation. Their research examined themes of environmental degradation, ecological fragility, and humanity's relationship with marine ecosystems. Through their artistic investigation, the mermaid emerged as a poetic representation of both the beauty of the ocean and the challenges it faces in an era of environmental decline.
Connecting Artistic Practices Across Europe
The residency presentation highlighted the diversity of artistic approaches supported through the Island Connect programme, bringing together artists from different geographical and cultural contexts to engage with local communities and international audiences.
Island Connect is funded by the Creative Europe Programme and supported by Statens Kunstfond, enabling artists and cultural organisations to collaborate across island and peripheral regions throughout Europe.
We thank BIRCA for hosting this inspiring residency and look forward to sharing further developments from the Island Connect artists as the programme continues.
