Migratory birds, the marshes and the Wadden Sea have been Else Pia Martinsen Erz's greatest source of inspiration for more than two decades. The special exhibition Tak til Trækfuglene og Vadehavet (Thanks to the Migratory Birds and the Wadden Sea) is a personal and sensory account of a life closely connected to the landscape, bird life and tides of the Wadden Sea.
It all began at sunset along Ballumdiget, where the artist first witnessed thousands of starlings seeking shelter for the night in the scrubland at Astrupdiget. Later, the starlings flew south, and the brent geese came from the north and took over the marshlands. The geese have since taken over the canvases – in large flocks, in the air and on the ground, close by and far away.
Over time, swans, herons and small birds also became recurring motifs, and in recent years the cranes have been among the most fascinating. Wandering on the mudflats, often reflected in the mirror-like Wadden Sea. The changeability of the sky, the fury of nature, the wind on the dike and the endless variation of colours have been a constant source of inspiration.
The tides that come and go give life to the many millions of migratory birds that enrich the Wadden Sea every year. This movement – between calm and power, repetition and change – is a recurring theme in the exhibition.
In 2014, Else Pia Martinsen Erz created the motif for UNESCO's World Heritage tile in connection with the celebration of the Wadden Sea as a World Heritage Site. The tile is permanently installed at the Wadden Sea Centre, and the exhibition also marks a reunion with this special place.