Walking – art, philosophy, reality

Abstract

The relationship to landscape and nature is important in artist Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen's practice and artistic research, where she for Walking Landscapes works with artist Kamilla Mez. The starting point for this walking performance is the publication: “Walking - art, philosophy, reality” - a collaboration between Madsen and Mez, which was published by Nordoplyst in 2020. The publication consisted of a text written by Madsen about walking as an artistic and philosophical method, connected to landmarks in Northern Jutland, which have had an impact on art production in the area, and which can be experienced on foot. There are e.g. descriptions of the Skagen painters' many walks on Grenen and Hærvejen's starting points in Hirtshals and Frederikshavn. In addition, the reader is introduced to different grips on how walking can become an artistic method and strategy. The graphic design was created by Mez. The core ideas from this publication are taken further in the Walking Landcapes project. Mez will in this context function as an avatar for Madsen, where she via Madsen's performance instructions will map and relate to areas in Skagen. The concept behind this walk is to explore the connection between theory and practice, thinking and doing: To embody the publication, to create dialogues across materials and connect these to places and paths which are crossed during the walk. The walk will last for 12 hours and Madsen sends every hour new instructions to Mez. The instructions are created in real-time and continuously shared with the audience as well, and Mez' own reflections and experiences are live streamed. Through this performance walk, a movement is created from the city, over its “edges” - and out into nature and returning to the city. The walk will embrace different rhythms, dynamics and ways of movement. It is thus also a study of performance instructions as a collaborative tool, as a distributed art practice, networked through online-communication and streaming, where an unknown terrain is explored on behalf of another.