Residency of Thomas Ott, hosted by Waking Life in partnership with Horst, Solstice Festival & Roots
@Floor Windels
In 2024, from Winter to Summer Solstice, EFFEA Artist Thomas Ott dived into local landscapes shaping paths, nests and huts as if they would rise from the land itself. Weaving possibilities of eucalyptus tree bark, dead trees, stone and clay, he creates a protected bubble for rest and contemplation.
Spending time staring at discarded objects – the unwanted. Looking at natural settings and filling in the blanks with patterns and forms. Everything is there, only a person is needed to connect all the pieces together. Straight lines and right angles are to be avoided – it is the realm of endless curves.
The artist compromises neither on resource selection nor working method, patience and perseverance are key to building an invitation to slow down, anchor and engage in dialogue with the elements. Paths take new turns, leading to secret gardens, pulsating lights and earthly treasures. Nothing amplified, nothing obvious, slow-paced discovery without expectations.
The Arte Terra residency results from a partnership between the festivals Waking Life (Portugal), Horst (Belgium), Solstice Festival (Finland), and Roots (Romania).