Fernweh was a project instigated by Huntly-based Deveron Arts, which ATLAS along with three other collaborators, explored notions of travel and remoteness. Fernweh sought to highlight the intricacies of travel and hospitality within community and socially engaged art, particularly in a rural context.
A travelling symposium, a group of eight international curators from Europe and the Americas navigated rural Scotland guided by numerous arts organisations based in different locales. During their journeys they visited villages, towns and art venues to investigate the relationship between place, hospitality, collaboration, distance and the urban-rural, as well as other matters.
During the group’s time in Skye, ATLAS hosted the symposium and invited members of the public to join in the discussion. On the concept of remoteness, a key factor in ATLAS’ work and one which is repeatedly explored through our programme, we encouraged the contributors and participants to consider the following questions; How much does geography matter? How much does distance affect our day-to-day lives?
Through a hosted dinner, discussion groups and guided walks we explored our sense of connectedness/isolation and connections between trade, development and tourism.