What happens when you truly listen to a place?

As part of the Island Connect 2 Islander Focus Exchange Programme, artist Amano de Landra Miura spent two weeks in residence at BIRCA, Bornholm, exploring the connection between people, place and the natural world.

Originally arriving to research extinction and island identity, Amano’s project evolved into something much more intimate. A practice of slowing down, observing and deeply listening. Returning to five special locations across the island each day, they wrote through the lens of the five senses, allowing the changing weather, landscapes, people and everyday moments to shape each piece.

The result? 🌿 A growing ecosystem of songs inspired by Bornholm’s flora, fauna and the living relationship we share with the environments around us.

Their final interactive performance invited audiences to experience that journey together, celebrating curiosity, connection and the stories that landscapes leave with us long after we return home.

Thank you, Amano, for sharing your creativity, generosity and beautiful perspective with the BIRCA community.

Art has the power to heal, connect and inspire.

During Alexandra’s residency at BIRCA as part of the Island Connect – Islander Focus Programme (August 2026), multidisciplinary artist Alexandra Deglize (@alexandradeglize) arrived on Bornholm with no fixed planch, choosing instead to experience the island with fresh eyes.

Guided by the island’s landscapes, stories and energy, her project evolved into a powerful participatory performance exploring the health of our oceans. Centred around the Baltic Sea’s polluted “dead zones,” Alexandra created a wake and healing ceremony for Mother Water, inviting the community to become part of the ritual and collective act of hope.

Together, participants gathered healing water, called upon the island’s guardians, and carried a shared intention: to return life, care and respect to our waters.

🌊 A beautiful reminder that art can be more than something we witness, it can be something we experience, share and carry forward.

The artistic research has been ongoing, immersive, and at times wonderfully intense. Despite the warm weather and occasional strong winds, each day has brought new discoveries, conversations, and connections that have enriched this experience in ways that could not have been anticipated.

Throughout this journey, the group have had the privilege of meeting dozens of curious, open-hearted people. Among them were some truly special characters – the hardworking, domesticated four-legged residents who have become an unforgettable part of the landscape and daily life here.

Over the course of this residency, the group have shared spaces, views, ideas, and research discussions with local communities, fellow artists, and fellow Island Connect researchers. Together, we have explored questions of place, belonging, culture, and connection, creating meaningful exchanges that will continue to resonate long after this chapter comes to a close.

As my time here draws to an end and I prepare to move on to the next stage of the journey, I find myself reflecting on the generosity and hospitality that have surrounded this work. The warmth of the local community, combined with the powerful presence of the natural environment, has shaped both the research and the experience in profound ways.

This Drama Cake Studio site-specific artistic research project has been organised and supported by BIRCA – Bækkelund International Residency Center for Artists, Island Connect, the Domino Project, Statens Kunstfond, Creative Europe, and the wider IslandConnect.eu network.

Most importantly, our gratitude extends to everyone who has contributed to this experience: the volunteers, farmers, artists, poets, workers, dreamers, and nature lovers who welcomed conversations, shared stories, and helped build meaningful connections. To the animals, butterflies, communal spaces, and living landscapes that formed part of this journey, thank you for your presence and inspiration.

Thank you all for showing up, sharing your generosity, and helping to create connections that remind us of the value of community, culture, nature, and our shared humanity.

The research may be concluding here, but the connections made along the way will continue to travel forward.