Two weeks at Casa Asmara in Scicli, Sicily. Two weeks in the sun.

When I arrived, I was surprised by how restless I felt. I had been moving through a very intense period before the residency and only once I arrived did I realise how close I was to burnout. The first days became a time to slow down and let my body calm.

Gradually I became more aware of the details around me: stone facades, carvings, washed-out blue doors, fresh mandarins, ricotta, and the quiet rhythm of everyday life. Having space to experience these things without rushing brought me back into the present.

During the residency I assembled my first chandelier from hand-shaped glass elements I had made earlier in Sweden and sandblasted to soften their glow. Inspired by Italian church chandeliers and the textured stone found around Sicily, the piece found its form in relation to suspension, light, and the room itself.

I also brought with me a ceramic EMPATHY vessel in a warm, sun-inspired tone. Its butterfly-like form became connected to openness, exploration, and kindness towards myself, all things I hoped to find during my stay.

Casa Asmara reminded me that exploration in my practice does not always come through pushing. Sometimes it begins with rest, attention, and creating enough space to truly look.