Map #4: Switzerland
TRAVEL BEGINS IN THE SWISS ALPS
It’s been a while since I’ve written in a blog style. You’ll probably sense a bit of chaos as I find my rhythm — maybe not, let’s see! I’m still discovering the best way to share as I go, so the tone may shift as I experiment.
Arrival at Bündner Rigi
I arrived at Bundner Rigi on the 15th August, and upon my arrival there was a paper making workshop and a music concert to follow on the balcony with the alps as the backdrop. Lots of people bustling around the house, kitchen and outside. This place was alive with the sound of music..and art! I had arrived.
I will spend just over two weeks in this Swiss sanctuary, a place for creativity to thrive. Surrounded by panoramic views by day and a thick blanket of stars at night. The alpine air and floating clouds made it feel as though we were in a castle on the sky. I guess we were!
Community & Shared Meals
Before I dive into creative reflections, I need to mention the community. This house is a hub for connection — with self, others, and nature.
The vastness of the mountains gave me a sense of internal space. It felt like there was room for everything: to create, experiment, exchange, and share philosophies.
Food was central to this. The canteen-style kitchen and communal bring-and-share dining reflected the spirit of the residency. Normally, I can feel apprehensive about big shared meals, but this was different. Maybe it was because the house was mostly all women during my stay — every task was anticipated, the table was set, drinks were within reach, and there was always enough food for seconds. It was bountiful!
The Piz Mundaun Hike
One of the core experiences of my stay was hiking to the summit of Piz Mundaun. It wasn’t planned, but somehow it became a physical embodiment of perseverance and hope — a lesson that later shaped my Swiss map.
Beginning Map #4
I had arrived with an intention: to begin my next map. After finishing Map #3, and about to embark on a self-titled Art Pilgrimage, I had all I needed: an 8-meter-long concertina sketchbook (thank you, Seawhite of Brighton), pens, and — unexpectedly — watercolours.
I’d never worked with watercolours before, though I’d always wanted to. Another new place, new material, new everything. I embraced it.
I’ll be honest: there are times when I can’t bear to look at those first attempts. Trying different water levels, different techniques — it’s the awkward stage of learning anything new. But I’ll share those experiments here, because feeling embarrassed is something to be embraced in the creative process!
The Fern as a Guide
It was apparent I was drawn to the fern. They are bountiful in the area and the experiments with cyanotype and relief print showed me it could hold it’s delicate shape despite my less than patient approach (still learning this through watercolour, it’s funny how patience needs to be re-learnt for different situations).
A bit of research revealed the species: Dryopteris expanza — meaning “to expand.” Paired with the Piz Mundaun hike and its lesson in hope, a theme was emerging. I use maps to answer puzzles within myself - and of course, the answer is simple and sophisticated. To use what I have to build upon, to grow, to expand.
Symbols & Pilgrimage
Studying the local map of my hike, the word ‘Wanderweg’ meaning trail (I liked the link between wander and trail) and Aussichtspunkt which means view point and had a symbol..which I drew, google lens-ed it, which led me to the ‘Zentangle’ method - after going down a bit of a rabbit hole, I realised that the viewpoint symbol, was to be placed at the tip of the fern, creating a depth of field towards the next page, the next chapter of my travels.
After finishing the map, I realised I had made Rigi - Queen of the Mountains, a historic pilgrimage site. My time here was a personal creative pilgrimage. Hiking the fern’s spine-shaped trail led me to breathtaking viewpoints, both literal and metaphorical. The physical landscape embodies emotional truths.
Colours, Encounters & Map-Making
The watercolours eventually began to combine into something sweet — a palette that reminded me of what flower scents might look like if they were colours. I began to imagine a “scent trail” of Blümelis (Swiss-German for flowers), represented by dots. These dots also became symbols for other encounters: shooting stars, soaring eagles, the prettiest cows I’ve ever seen..
Switzerland — my first resting place — has been expansive, both physically and socially. It has shown me where I am heading and opened the first chapter of Map #4: The Art of Pilgrimage.
What’s Next
And so concludes my stay at the creative hub of Bündner Rigi. It’s been a blast. This queen of the mountain feels ready to set sail for her next resting place.
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