Windsong
The exhibition Windsong comprises a selection of 20 images by photographers Armando Milano and Felicitas Yang, the majority of which were taken on Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. At about 18 km west from the shore of Ireland, and stretching a mere 14 km in length, Inishmore harbours a little over 800 inhabitants. The island is composed of limestone pavement covered in places by a thin layer of soil, creating a canvas of grass patches scattered across cracked stone. The south side of the island boasts a hundred meter high cliffs, upon which the ocean waves unleash their elemental power, sometimes ripping away giant slabs of rock. A spectacle accurately described by Tim Robinson in Stones of Aran: Pilgrimage (1986) as “primaeval chaos pitted against fundamental geometry.
exhibited at La Moulinette (Paris), 19/09 - 02/10/24
Artists’ statement
We prefer walking, valuing the journey itself over the convenience of a quick destination, as filmmaker Werner Herzog suggests, "The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot." The destination often serves as a mere excuse to set a pace that allows for deeper discovery. As photographers, this approach helps us uncover the overlooked, the unassuming, and the unexpected. Inishmore, our destination, surprised us with its profound resonance beyond its known beauty where land meets sea. The island's wild winds shape its landscape and even its trees, embodying nature's relentless force. Nature's influence on our imagination and ethics underscores our connection to the environment, shaping both our understanding of the world and ourselves. Inishmore's resilience against the elements reflects the broader struggle for existence. The struggle felt from Inishmore’s turbulent environment sparked sensations of this fight for existence, which is but a reminder of each living thing’s will to endure. The elements turn into a test of fortitude if we allow ourselves to become the vessels of Nature’s primal and destructive energies. It is an awe-inspiring lesson in humility. All we have to do is let the wind in.
