langøyene

For some context, Langøyene is a neighbouring island for me. She is one that I see on my bus ride into town, and one that if I peak my head around the pier I can catch a glimpse of. 

In my ongoing research I happened to run into readings about this place and the island’s historical relationship to waste, toxicity and later the blanketing of both those things.

Langøyene originally existed as two islands (Nordre and Søndre Langøy) with a small strait that passed-through. With the purchase in 1902 the Oslo municipality began filling the strait with city garbage and commercial waste. The landfill was active from 1908 - 1948 and eventually was concealed with gravel and other mineral as a protective method. The covered landfill was used as a destination, even a retreat, for citizens to beach and bathe until later when the fjord water was measured for contaminants. In 2013, visitors witnessed the physical affects of the contamination leak as tangible histories (plates, glasses, cars, etc.) began to surface along the fill and shore lines. More recently, Langøyene had an additional restoration to ensure the safety of the marine life, the fjord, and the health of the folks visiting. [18]

Langøyene re-opened to the public on May 14. I took the first ferry and was greeted by these five men who seemed to have a deep involvement, and were so thrilled to have their first official visitors. Before this, I had been sneaking to Langøyene with my kayak to develop a relation—always met with solitude away from people, yet vibrance from the wildlife trying to make a life there. 

The beach along the western shore is in need of a comb. The score of the island matches the intention of my sifting practice.