Place and identity
Årøsund
Årøsund
What makes a place identifiable? What gives a place its identity?
Exploring the subject of place identity, I made a small experiment with my grandmother at the the small fishing village where she lives.
Discovering the the place from a new perspective, I wanted to investigate the what actually gives a place its characteristics, starting by discovering it through the consciousness of my grandmother.
I asked her what she would point out that gives the place identity to her.
Bringing a map and a camera, we started a walk and a talk, pointing out places and defining feelings and atmospheres in the town.
Given the fact that I chose to ask my grandmother, I knew that her answers might reflect her 89 years of age.
Method:
Mapping out places on a map. Taking pictures, mapping the places visually. Get a narrative related to the place / atmosphere pinned down, as we walked around.
Processing:
After having walked and talked and mapped down identity spots. I realised that many of the things we mapped down did not exist any more. So we went home, and found old photographs of places and people. Afterwards I went out again, and tried to photograph the places again, but from the same perspective as the photograph was taken, as the places and actions that had been taken place now only lived in the min of the persons who remembered it. The visual result is merged photographs of now and then. Images of time my grandmother referred to combined with photos of the same place today. Many of the places have drastically changed and the memory of the things taking places only lives in the memory.
Identity spots:
1. The family’s shop which the 8 siblings looked after
2. Cargo ships in the harbour
3. Bathing by the harbour pier
4. Fishing boats in the harbour
5. The ferry between Årøsund and Assens
6. Seagulls and the sound and smell of the sea
7. Dockers
8. Our family house
Exploring the subject of place identity, I made a small experiment with my grandmother at the the small fishing village where she lives.
Discovering the the place from a new perspective, I wanted to investigate the what actually gives a place its characteristics, starting by discovering it through the consciousness of my grandmother.
I asked her what she would point out that gives the place identity to her.
Bringing a map and a camera, we started a walk and a talk, pointing out places and defining feelings and atmospheres in the town.
Given the fact that I chose to ask my grandmother, I knew that her answers might reflect her 89 years of age.
Method:
Mapping out places on a map. Taking pictures, mapping the places visually. Get a narrative related to the place / atmosphere pinned down, as we walked around.
Processing:
After having walked and talked and mapped down identity spots. I realised that many of the things we mapped down did not exist any more. So we went home, and found old photographs of places and people. Afterwards I went out again, and tried to photograph the places again, but from the same perspective as the photograph was taken, as the places and actions that had been taken place now only lived in the min of the persons who remembered it. The visual result is merged photographs of now and then. Images of time my grandmother referred to combined with photos of the same place today. Many of the places have drastically changed and the memory of the things taking places only lives in the memory.
Identity spots:
1. The family’s shop which the 8 siblings looked after
2. Cargo ships in the harbour
3. Bathing by the harbour pier
4. Fishing boats in the harbour
5. The ferry between Årøsund and Assens
6. Seagulls and the sound and smell of the sea
7. Dockers
8. Our family house
1. The family’s shop which the 8 siblings looked after:
My grandmother (far left), two of her sisters and her mother by the end wall of their house and shop. Today my grandmothers younger sister, Gerda (far right) lives in the house.
My grandmother (far left), two of her sisters and her mother by the end wall of their house and shop. Today my grandmothers younger sister, Gerda (far right) lives in the house.
2. Cargo ships in the harbour:
Today there is no cargo ships in the harbour and only a few industrial fishing boats left.
Today there is no cargo ships in the harbour and only a few industrial fishing boats left.
3. Bathing by the harbour pier:
Today the pier has changed to make place for a marina
Today the pier has changed to make place for a marina
4. Fishing boats in the harbour:
Today still a lot of leisure fishing boats in the old harbour
Today still a lot of leisure fishing boats in the old harbour
5. The ferry between Årøsund and Assens:
The ferry does no longer exist, but is replaced by a new route to a smaller island.
The ferry does no longer exist, but is replaced by a new route to a smaller island.
6. Seagulls and the sound and smell of the sea
7. Dockers:
Today there is only a few industrial fishing boats left.
Today there is only a few industrial fishing boats left.
8. Our family house:
The house has mos recently been sold and does now belong to the local beach hotel
The house has mos recently been sold and does now belong to the local beach hotel
My grandmother (right) with her sister in front of her house today, 89 years old.
