“We’ve never tried that before, so it sure is fine,” says Pippi Longstocking, when it comes to daring to do something new. In keeping with the Finnish cult figure of Astrid Lindgren, I was convinced that my latest project will not only be good, but unique.

Normally, I try to reach my geographical goals in no time. This time I wanted to be on the road as long as possible, without striving for a specific goal. The uncompromising immersion in nature and the examination of the elements shaped this journey of discovery and made it a real challenge. It was a journey that did not take me to distant, undiscovered worlds, but into the heart of Finland.

After five weeks, it was not the coldness or loneliness that moved me to return. It was a lot more time. Every day I had up to eight hours, which I could not use productively because of the darkness. Having too much time may seem paradoxical, but I realized more and more how important it is for me to use my lifetime to progress in my doing and thinking. Due to the missing end goal, this project turned more and more into a dead end in which I could not possibly realize my ideas and dreams. My thoughts turned in circles and I could not give them direction through my actions.

More information and pictures: supthelake.ch/project/finnland

Via Thomas Oschwald