Wanderlust
A Mockumentary Series
2025
A Mockumentary Series
2025
Wanderlust is one of my projects at the residency Casa Tagumerche, on the island La Gomera in the Canary Islands.
For details of the residency experience, see here: http://www.linyuaner.com/la-gomera-canary-islands.html
As an experienced tourist, observer, outsider, I took a lot of pictures and videos on my phone. On an ordinary day just like every day else, it occurred to me that I should make a mockumentary with my own narrative about the island.
(For each episode below, the text in the voice-over came after I put together the video clips.)
For details of the residency experience, see here: http://www.linyuaner.com/la-gomera-canary-islands.html
As an experienced tourist, observer, outsider, I took a lot of pictures and videos on my phone. On an ordinary day just like every day else, it occurred to me that I should make a mockumentary with my own narrative about the island.
(For each episode below, the text in the voice-over came after I put together the video clips.)
On the Plants of La Gomera
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On La Gomera, trees know their directions.
They follow their hearts. Among the many trees here, there is a magical forest. It is said that the best time to visit is when it’s rainy. And windy. That’s when the magic enters you. And your immune system. One of your amigos on the island is the palm. Do you know that palms are not really trees, but herbs? They are closer to grass, corn, lilies, and onions. The fashionable ones wear belts. Of different sizes and colors. Their eyelashes are long and thick. They cry in the rain. And their eyelashes fall. And become tusks. One of the residents on the island is cactus. There are different types of cacti here. These ping pong bats are your besties. There are many of them. They are called Opuntia, or Prickly Pear, originally from Mexico. Both the fruit and pads are edible. But don’t touch the fruit barehand. Or you can throw them at people that you don’t like. Sometimes they have trunks. In Chinese, the word for cactus translates as “palm of an immortal person”. But they are mortal. |
On the Signs, Posters, and Activities of La Gomera
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On La Gomera, signs remind you of different kinds of danger.
Achtung, starke Strömung. (Attention, strong current.) You also need to watch out for the people. You will often run into maps and info about the region. Or scan the QR code if your phone has service. Like anywhere else, people like to leave their traces. I paint, therefore I am. I print, therefore I am. The advertisements on La Gomera are pretty straightforward. They offer excursions to the ocean or the mountains. The flyers are usually put under stones. Otherwise, they fly away, just like you. If you move yourself, you move everything. There are different kinds of activities on the island. Every day there is something new. All you can dance. Art exhibition. You can meet DJ Goodtime. And DJ Real Happy. Monday is movie day. Girl, you know it’s true. Yin Yoga with singing bowls. Transformative breathwork. They also have day care for children aged 4 and older. This is the place for you to arrive at BEING. Ankommen im SEIN. |
On the Shops of La Gomera
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You will find a lot of shops and restaurants near the beaches.
They are quite exotic. You can visit Buddha. As well as Colorado. You will find colorful clothes. Colorful sugar. Sugar and flour. And therapies. You can find the opening hours on the windows. Music is a thing here. It’s often represented in graphic form. You can hear the sound by just looking. Outdoor exercise equipment is also a thing here. Especially when you have too much Coca Cola. |
On the Animals of La Gomera
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Where are the canaries in the Canary Islands?
In Latin, “Canariae Insulae” means “Islands of the Dogs”. Here we definitely have birds with propellers. Some sheep. Some fish that massage your feet. Some penguins and reindeer. Some bees in boxes. Some birds that you only hear but never see. Cat and mouse. Koi that bring you good luck. Moth that goes toward the fire. Fly with an aim. Squid without a shell. Lizard that doesn’t move. |
On the Reservoirs of La Gomera
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Where does the water on the island come from?
Where does it go? Reservoir. Reserve. Voir. Voilà. A reservoir is not so different from a swimming pool. The stairs lead to the underworld. The bottom is sloped. Good for surfing. Sometimes there are doors on the side. They tell you when you will be born in the next life. You can turn the water on and off. The water goes through everything. And end up in the air. So do you. |
On the Beaches of La Gomera
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On La Gomera, the beaches look just like what beaches look like.
You can do all kinds of beach things. Just pay attention to jellyfish. There is a statue of the hero who, in 1488, led the Rebellion of the Gomeros, during which the natives of the island killed the territorial lord. What marks do you want to leave of your existence? Some people choose to be close to nature. They find a shelter wherever they go. How are people different from rocks? They come together and break apart. Come together and break apart. |
On the Transportation of La Gomera
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There are different ways to move around on the island.
You can sit in the cradle of an excavator. You can call a taxi. You can rent a car. With antenna in the shape of a palm. Don’t forget the mirror. Protect yourself from the sun. Otherwise, you get freckles. You can also walk. There are logs to keep you from rolling down the hill. Remember to stop when it says stop. There are markings on the rocks. Smile. You are not alone. |
On the Weather, Climate, and Roads of La Gomera
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What time is it in the sky?
Did stars just fall on the ground and become a river of light? La Gomera is shaped like a tangerine. Its roads are as winding as your intestines. You might occasionally see cars. Ladders. Persons. And question marks. The climate on the island is mild. The weather forecast brings hope. You just need to wait. And become one with the mist. It’s windy. But the fans never turn. Sometimes sand from Sahara comes for a visit. This is a clear day. This is a not-so-clear day. But even on a not-so-clear day, you can still see Jesus. Meanwhile, you might want to wear a mask. And enjoy the dance. |
Extra notes on Wanderlust:
What I like about being in a residency (and traveling in general) is that I can hear stories from real people and experience things with all my senses instead of getting information from a book or a screen. One major finding after getting on the island is that the dominant population on the island is Germans. Not surprisingly, I had just had 4 months of intensive German theater history class before I went - I thought I was going for a break, but found myself in the most authentic German vacation.
What I like about being in a residency (and traveling in general) is that I can hear stories from real people and experience things with all my senses instead of getting information from a book or a screen. One major finding after getting on the island is that the dominant population on the island is Germans. Not surprisingly, I had just had 4 months of intensive German theater history class before I went - I thought I was going for a break, but found myself in the most authentic German vacation.
Conversation, or "How to Play with Your Sculpture"
2016 - 2017 |
Entrance
2016
2016
Train of Thought
2016
2016