Steffen Jensen recommends: Art and culture on Langeland

Langeland's ‘Open Doors’
 

I love art and culture. In fact, I'm far more addicted to art and culture than I thought. The Corona lockdown suddenly made it crystal clear to me how much I suddenly missed galleries, museums, cafés, exhibitions, salons, theatres, libraries, music performances and all sorts of other things that I previously just experienced, consumed and enjoyed without thinking much more about it. When it all suddenly disappeared, became closed off, out of my daily reach, I painfully realised how much I missed this vital stimulation of my mind, spirit and soul. As important for the spirit as oxygen is for the body.

My salvation was that I had moved to Langeland a few years earlier. A so-called ‘outlying community’, as some in the big cities describe it with barely concealed contempt.

But living on an island well away from the big cities means that people have a much clearer identity. The surrounding sea provides a natural boundary. A barrier: This far and no further. You know where you belong. It gives islanders a sense of identity and balance in life. You are part of a clear community. And the smaller this community is, the more important a part of it each individual member becomes. It makes a difference whether you're there or not. It's a good feeling. That your existence makes a difference. That it matters to others. This sense of positive belonging is a great bonding agent for a community. And in many places on the so-called ‘fringes’, like Langeland, there is an incredibly well-functioning, cohesive civil society. Lots of ‘ordinary citizens’ who take an extremely active part in the functioning and operation of the community, thereby taking active ownership of this community.

People over here look out for each other. This is one of the reasons why Langeland has been incredibly gently bypassed by this devastating pandemic, which has otherwise levelled the spark of life and enthusiasm with depression in many other parts of the country.

Here on Langeland, we have been able to live on without the ultra-dramatic upheavals in our lives. At the time of writing at the end of February, we simply do not have any Coronavirus infection on the island, and haven't had it for quite some time.

Our small island community is also blessed with a veritable myriad of artists, artisans and other creative cultural workers who live, work and create here on the island. And even though we're about to embark on the regular annual Easter ‘Open Doors’ event, where they all open their studios, workshops and galleries for a long weekend, welcoming anyone and everyone who is interested. I've been lucky enough to get to know a large number of Langeland's artists from the start and can proudly call many of them my friends. This means that I've been privileged to have ‘Open Doors’ all year round. During the pandemic lockdown, I've been able to replenish my otherwise malnourished, depleted arts and culture section of my mind. This has been a huge blessing for me. Because at the same time as I discovered how surprisingly important and necessary a part of my life art and culture is to me, my inclusion in this small, active, welcoming local island community ensured that I have still been able to have artistic and cultural experiences in my life, while it had become much more difficult for many other Danes to have them.

We are lucky on Langeland to have so many artists and artisans per square kilometre. Probably a greater density of artists than many other places in the country.

Why do we have that?
 

I don't know. But I assume it's because house prices have been incredibly low over here for a few decades, so artists, artistic types and other creative souls have been able to see the opportunity to fulfil some of their space-consuming dreams over here. Because in addition to the fact that house prices are unbelievable and you can get a house, workshop and gallery without breaking the bank, you can also get it all in the middle of some of Denmark's most beautiful nature. Where there is peace and quiet. You can become a valued part of an open and welcoming local community that, if you show just a minimum of interest and openness, generously and hospitably takes you in and makes you feel comfortable, at home and welcome.

I have lived in the Middle East for most of my life, and until we bought an old farmhouse on Langeland 14-15 years ago as our holiday home in Denmark, I had no relationship with the island. No family relations, no old friends from high school or other connections. Yet the openness and helpfulness of the island community towards my family and me has meant that we have taken the island to our hearts in record time.

When I drive across Siø in the evening - after returning to Denmark after another reporting trip - and see the lights of Rudkøbing in the distance, I breathe a sigh of relief and really feel that I've come home. Really home. Something I in no way feel compared to Randers or Aarhus in Central Jutland, where I was born and grew up.

It also says something about the beautiful Langeland and its ‘Open Doors’.
 

Tranekær 21 February 2021
 

Steffen Jensen
 

Middle East correspondent for TV2/Danmark