Martina Ziewe

My approach to the residency was to tune into the outer season of late Autumn heading towards the Winter Solstice, while simultaneously being aware of my inner menstrual cycle. In cycle awareness, (where you are in the cycle is sometimes referred to as the inner seasons) I was also in late Autumn on arrival, descending into Winter (menstruation) and left in my inner Spring. 
I listened to my body and it’s own rhythm and pace in relationship to the environment, responding and allowing this to inform my approach to the creative process.
The removal of many distractions and the quiet of the residency was a real gift and provided an ideal place to slow down enough to feel moved to create in a way that was natural and authentic to me in the moment.
The residency served as a container, two weeks offered as a "space for thought, reflection and creation - an opportunity to completely immerse yourself in your practice."
When conditions such as these are the foundation it provides a safe and nurturing environment for those visiting. It is an act of great generosity and service on Scarlett and Jake’s part. I am grateful that I received the bursary to allow this opportunity.
During the first couple of days I gently landed after a very long journey, I acclimatised and spent the time getting to know fellow resident, Asami. I went for walks both locally and further afield to familiarise with the environment, taking a DSLR camera and a small Osmo pocket action camera, and took hundreds of photos and clips.
Daily rituals unfolded. Every morning I lit a candle and wrote at my desk in my room, Asami and I would pause for tea, or find ourselves having long conversations at spontaneous moments supporting one another kindly.
One of the things that I found most striking and connected to from the moment I arrived was the bright yellow gorse in the late Autumn landscape, standing out amongst the neutral tones. I started collecting gorse petals in a jar as a daily ritual, as well as collecting my blood.
Asami and I ended up working together in collaboration in different ways very naturally. One day we set up the camera and I curled up on my bed as I was in the depths of my inner Winter to honour this dropping inward that this time and space allowed, these safe circumstances meant I could really be still and deeply surrender and honour this time in my cycle.
Asami slowly walked around and placed red thread all over my body making a symbolic cocoon and holding space for me. This felt like true inner and outer winter alignment. 
Over the coming days in the studio I started painting with my blood quite late into the night. As well as playing with watercolours. Listening to music this allowed for a state of gentle flow in my practice as a continuation.
On the other side of inner Winter as I gently emerged into Spring I started walking further again ‘coming back out into the world’ after introspection, out of my kind of nest. I filmed Asami while they moved and danced outside and took photos witnessing their own performance which was an honour to be part of.
In the last few days we lay out a big roll of paper, we both meditatively moved our bodies, they played with sound and we both drew and made marks through movement in tune with one another in the studio. We noticed the marks on the paper seemed to reflect something of the rawness of the landscape. We filmed this and took photos after.
On the last day we went up on the hill close to the house, Asami filmed and gently witnessed my final intuitive ritual involving a tree, my blood, the red thread and the yellow gorse petals. 
I wrapped the red thread around the trunk of the tree and slowly walked around repeating in loops. This seemed to serve as a visual metaphor for meditation. Each time I slightly lost my footing on the ground or attention even very briefly the thread got a little tangled and I would stop to untangle the thread. Once untangled I would come back to my relationship to the tree and reconnect once more in the moment. The performance / ritual ended with pouring the blood to the roots of the tree to the earth and I threw the yellow gorse petals over the tree like confetti to symbolise coming back to Spring again, this felt like a small celebration. 
I stood quietly and felt I wanted to acknowledge that Summer would return on the other side of Winter once more. I was leaning against the tree, then felt called to jump down and I ran back into the surrounding trees into the distance, more outward energy returning.

This felt complete. Asami and I had been mentally preparing how we felt about leaving in the last couple of days. By the time it came round I felt ready! When Scarlett and Jake walked me back to the station, my huge suitcase in tow, looking like something from a children's storybook; Scarlett in her yellow raincoat with red wellingtons, Jake with waistcoat and mug of tea both smiling, I was waved off feeling the warmth and glow of their spirit of generosity and kindness, a beautiful memory, my cup well and truly full.

Being matched with Asami was harmonious and natural and it felt easy to do our own work and support one another by witnessing as well as collaborating.

The residency experience left me with more of an understanding of my approach and ideas to continue to explore. I will be editing a film and making work from this time. It has deepened my practice, and to trust in my intuition and my relationship and understanding of our interconnectedness.

This has been a validating experience for me as an Artist, I will carry this with me going forward and I wish to share what I have gained with others in my own way quite naturally. I am grateful for this gift of an opportunity. Thank you.
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Martina Ziewe
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