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GOLDFISH

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Project introduction

A WEEK-LONG CYANOTYPE PRINTING WORKSHOP SET IN THE RUGGED WILDERNESS OF THE OFF-SEASON AMORGOS,
A REMOTE ISLAND OF THE LESSER CYCLADES.


Eirini:  I was born in Crete, but I fell in love with Amorgos over twenty years ago. My journey there has taken many forms - first as a student working seasonal waitering jobs, then as a guest, an artist, a tourist, and an educator. The once-picturesque Bay of Aegiali is now undergoing rapid transformation, shaped by exploitation and so-called “development,” leading to a decline in the quality of life for both humans and non-humans. Yet, it remains a place of extraordinary beauty - for now. Through this workshop or rather, a framework for presence we aim to explore other ways of being visitors, of seeing, of experiencing, and of coexisting.

In an era of extractivism and overtourism, we - like many others - feel compelled to respond. As cultural workers, artists, researchers, but also as guests and hosts, especially those from southern geographies, we recognize the urgency of the moment. The Cyclades have long surpassed their capacity for unrestrained development. Santorini and Mykonos, as they once were, have vanished, and more islands are following. Amorgos, part of the Lesser Cyclades, holds remnants of a rich and layered past - a palace attributed to King Minos, bauxite mines, a shipwreck, traces of an ancient Oracle, and a cliffside Monastery. Yet, projections based on the island’s current rate of development suggest that its landscape will dramatically change within the next 20 years. Who cares?

This workshop is an invitation to cultivate practices of engagement, care, and attentiveness. Through the lens of this small but significant geography, we will explore cyanotype printing as a way of thinking about art and ecology - learning to listen and resonate with the place, with time, with one another, with locals and non-locals, guests and hosts.

                        

A typical day on Amorgos

Early risers are welcome to join us in the garden for a calming breathing exercise. If you’d prefer to sleep in or take a walk instead, that’s completely up to you. Throughout the week, we’ll offer key program points, allowing you to participate as it suits you best. The only constant is starting and ending the day together - gathering after breakfast and sharing experiences in a circle at dinner. Within this structure, you create your own rhythm. 

After breakfast, we’ll meet, coffee in hand, to discuss the day’s activities. The cyanotype workshop opens at 10:00, with Anna available until 13:00 to assist anyone who needs help. We’ll leave our prints in the darkroom before heading to lunch. For those interested in joining, we’ll go for a walk to a nearby village in the late afternoon, visiting a local essential oil distillery to meet the owners and learn about the island’s flora. We’ll return just in time for a swim at the beach at sunset. 

After dinner, we gather to exchange thoughts. Some evenings will begin with a Greek poem and a talk by Eirini about the history of Amorgos, while others may feature Lisa discussing “amoebic thinking” and artistic interaction, or Anna sharing insights on working with the color blue and cyanotype. From there, the circle opens, and everyone is welcome to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences about the island and our time here.

Goldfish Community As facilitators, we have decided to limit the group size to 15 participants. Based on our experience, this is the ideal number to maintain a cohesive and engaged group. Our goal is to cultivate a well-balanced community where everyone has the time and a safe space to connect, share, and absorb meaningful experiences.

CONTACT: invisibilisauratus@gmail.com