In the process of establishing TICKON, Tranekær In- ternational Center for Art and Nature, in our Island of Langeland, Denmark, many valuable experiences have been accessed, especially through the close and personal collaboration with artist colleagues, related Institutions and professionals from many fields of expressions and research.
Seventeen years have now passed since the founding of TICKON, seventeen exciting years of hard and demanding but inspiring work filled with visions for the future.
I can still hear our vice chairman, Gertrude Købke Sutton saying: “TICKON was founded and has to be run ….con amore”.
We have succeeded in keeping our vision for TICKON clear, professional and – yes….personal. Since the very start, we have remained true to the concept of site-specific art in nature and we have obtained international respect and recognition confirmed by the many references to TICKON in literature dealing with the subject. Now it is time to move on and to plan a supple- mentary project, i.e. the establishing of a place to house activities related to the three headings: ART · NATURE · SCIENCE.
Two international conferences and exhibitions were staged in 1993 and 1996 – the latter in collaboration with the Botanical Garden in Copenhagen and Kunsthallen Brandts in Odense.
I realize that we are undertaking a major and ambitious task, but I do not doubt that such a centre with its threefold activities will find fertile ground here in Langeland and hope for positive national and international support. Based on a program that will combine artistic, cultural and educational activities, it will be in tune with the initiatives of the local City Council’s regional planning and act as an incubator for new projects that will attract visitors from near and far.
Our plan is ambitious but very real – and possible!
Alfio Bonanno
Artist and founding artistic director of TICKON. The artist Alfio Bonanno and graphic designer Ole Møhr Johnsen have collected the material and edited the presentation of our ideas related to the TICKON Center-project.
TICKONS COMMITTEE / Tranekær April 2008
Ole Møhr Johnsen · Chairman
Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig
Alfio Bonanno
Vagn Lundbye
Frits Feodor Nielsen
Gertrud Købke Sutton