Simon Chang
Užrašai prie jūros / Sketchbook by the Sea
Rašytojo Thomo Manno muziejaus laiptai, Tomo Mano g. 8 / Thomas Mann Museum stairway, Tomo Mano St. 8
2026 09 15 | 17:30
Simon Chang Sketchbook by the Sea During my residency in Nida, I was drawn not only to the beauty of the seaside town, but also to what usually remains unseen: its hidden corners, fading traces, unexpected encounters, and lives unfolding behind the scenes.
I began to think of the project as photographing “Nida backstage”—wandering through the town in May, just before she steps onto the stage and presents her most beautiful face to summer visitors. Yet the backstage has its own atmosphere, stories, and even secrets. Walking without a fixed destination, I photographed spontaneously, allowing curiosity and instinct to guide me.
The forest and the Baltic Sea gradually became more than landscapes. Their silence, wild winds, shadows, and rhythms intertwined with my inner world during the many hours I spent walking and meditating by the sea. With my back resting against a pine tree, I swayed gently with its tall, straight trunk whenever the wind blew. Even after leaving, I often imagine another version of myself still sitting among the trees, listening to the wind.
Sketchbook by the Sea is both a visual diary and a trace of this deeply personal experience—a collection of people, emotions, and quiet discoveries. Nida oLered me one of the most unique and unforgettable residencies I have ever experienced. I remain deeply grateful; somehow, it has become part of me.
Simon Chang created these works during the Nida Photography Residency programme in May 2026.
