Washed ashore, a photo from West-Vlaanderen, Flandres

Photographer's Note

‘Wenduine - Washed ashore’

This artwork in the dunes of Wenduine is called 'harbour porpoise' (‘bruinvis’ in Dutch) and is a work of Manon Huguenin.
It is multicoloured and on the partitions you will find poetic texts. I didn’t find any more information.

I used the title 'washed ashore' here because sometimes harbour porpoises and other large fishes do wash ashore and die on our beaches.
But also because the locals of the coast give the name 'the washed ashore' to those who come from more inland to live at the coast.

Just like many Americans from the north of the US move to Florida after their retirement, there are many retirees in Belgium who go to live by the sea.
As a result, the permanent population in the coastal towns is the oldest in the entire country.
In the summer season there are of course a lot of young people and people of all ages who spend their holidays by the sea.
But as far as permanent residents are concerned, every municipality there has an older population.

The term 'the washed up' was familiar to me and I had also heard that it wasn't very easy to make friends with the locals.
When I got into a conversation with an elderly couple on a terrace, I wanted to check that out.
That couple had moved to the coast from an inland town after their retirement and they admitted that it took years for them to make real friends among the locals.
Even when we speak the same language, the difference in accent quickly reveals which part of the country one comes from.
Personally I find that quite disappointing but the couple answered me that they did not experience this as a problem because they had quickly become friends with other 'washed up persons'...

That reminds me of an experience in the south of Spain a few years ago.
I had made a reservation for a few nights in a small bed and breakfast in a town not far from the Mediterranean.
Upon arrival, the owners of this B&B turned out to be Dutch. They were people about the same age as me. They had quit their job in the Netherlands to start a B&B in a sunnier place.
However, they didn't speak Spanish very well and when I asked them if it wasn’t difficult to live there, their answer was that many pensioners from the UK and Scandinavia lived in that town and that they had made several good friends with Britons and Danes.
Apparently there lived almost as many people from the north of Europe as Spaniards.

Perhaps I’m too sensitive as to whether or not I will be accepted in another region or country.
I can travel in other countries and other cultures without any problem and also for a longer time as long as I know that I will go back home someday.
But living somewhere where I'll always be considered as a foreigner by the locals doesn't appeal to me at all. And a life among only other expats is for me even less attractive.

Are there in your countries also people who move to another part of your country after their retirement?
I’m not talking about moving abroad but to another more popular part of your country where people of the same nationality and with the same culture live and where you’re not necessarily easily accepted by the local population.
Just to clarify: I don't mean that the inhabitants of the Belgian coast react negatively when you make contact, but you still have the feeling that you’re not one of them.

ikeharel, ChrisJ, Fis2, adramad, jean113, pierrefonds, pajaran, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, Royaldevon, jhm, worldcitizen trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (114691) 2022-04-14 8:15

Modern and colorful display on the shores, Paul.
Reading the note I can agree with the migrating idea presented, interesting essay.
Good evening,
Ike

holmertz (103694) 2022-04-14 8:30

Hello Paul,
It was a good idea to transform this coastal area into a kind of sculpture park. That would make the dunes less boring after a while. The stranded whale is probably the most interesting of the three works shown. There seem to be lots of details to discover.
I haven't heard of any area in this country where Swedes go after retirement to wait for death. Those who can afford to move are more likely to buy a house or a flat somewhere in Spain, or to some extent also in Portugal or France. The Swedish climate is just as bad everywhere, so there's not much point in moving to our coastal areas.
Best regards,
Gert

ChrisJ (172436) 2022-04-14 8:42

Hallo Paul

The colourful beached whale sculpture is intriguing. Superb sharpness and well framed and composed using the rule of thirds. Children would probably enjoy climbing around inside it. Tfs!

lousat (140046) 2022-04-14 8:56

Hi Paul,your notes are very interesting, I have 4 years left to retire and you have given me some ideas, even if mine remains to buy a small house in my village and then travel the world. However, even in Italy many retirees move to the sea, Liguria is the home of retired Milanese while many foreigners have moved to the south. The works are very original, I really like the one in the first WS that recalls the style of Niki de Saint Phalle, top quality as always. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Fis2 (172023) 2022-04-14 9:48

Witaj Paul!
A very interesting set of photos.
Curious places.
The works of art are impressive.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
Excellent presentation.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (223027) 2022-04-14 10:14

Ciao Paul, original artwork, wonderful colors, fine details, beautiful light and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

adramad (73484) 2022-04-14 10:39

Hello Paul.
A magnificent composition with this modern sculpture, which of course we see represents some kind of fish, its color highlights very well the greenery of the environment and the dune behind covered with bushes.
I like the Poseidon sculpture very much and it certainly reminds me of the classical Greek style.
Sharpness, lighting, color, and magnificent composition; They are managed perfectly, in this beautiful image.
Nice job. I like very much.
You have a good day. Very best regards.
Luis.

jean113 (28321) 2022-04-14 11:29

Hello Paul, three pictures of very different pieces of artwork.
The one entitled Odysseus is very strange.
This is the most eye catching of the three, especially with its bright colours.
I read your notes with interest. Yes, some Brits do move when they retire, but for all sorts of reasons. For me the idea of living in a foreign country with a lot of expats fills me with horror!!
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.

pierrefonds (115624) 2022-04-14 12:11

Bonsoir Paul,

L'oeuvre d'art est bien placée dans le cadrage. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails de l'oeuvre d'art. La lumière met en valeur les couleurs de l'image. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

pajaran (117137) 2022-04-14 13:54

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar terkst ...
lepa velika skuptura, dobro pokazana sa lepim bojama i kontrastom.
Dobar rad sa lepim, fotografijama u radionici.
Lepa umetnicka dela.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

cargus (14004) 2022-04-14 14:29

Image intéressante, bon équilibre entre la lumière et les couleurs, la netteté de l'image met en valeur la photo bien faite..!! Salutations, Adrian

COSTANTINO (117884) 2022-04-14 21:07

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy evening
wow!!!!original version
fantastic piece of artwork
in the dunes of Wending called...HARBOUR
PORPOISE....
regards
cOSTANTINO

jemaflor (148306) 2022-04-14 23:22

Salut Paul,
Intéressante oeuvre d'art assez originale avec ce squelette en couleurs, intéressante note également. Tfs.

Royaldevon (86520) 2022-04-15 5:28

Hello Paul,

I found your photograph very sad. It has nothing to do with the quality of the photograph, which is excellent, but from the disposition of the porpoise.
It appears starved whilst trying dejectedly to drag itself back to the security of the sea!
The other pieces of art are not so traumatic.
I find it very interesting that such pieces of art are situated in the sand dunes. (My supplementary thoughts were do they get vandalised? Are they respected? Sadly there seems to be a trend for some to vandalise features left for the enjoyment of others. I'm sure the 'oldie, washed up' inhabitants would not be responsible but, maybe in summer ...)'

In answer to your question, I can speak about the people in my locality. We have had quite a number of people moving to the north from London and the surrounding area. As you note, regional accents set them apart, but northerners are particularly sociable and these people have quickly become part of the population. Because I work a couple of hours as a volunteer in our Community Shop, I get an opportunity to meet and chat with many people. In general (the term is 'off-cum-dens not washed ashore) the people quickly integrate and volunteer for community projects, just like the locals.

Have a lovely w/e,
Bev :-)

vjmite (6706) 2022-04-16 5:32

Hi Paul,

This is a really colourful sculpture and it stands out well against the green grass. A very inventive representation of a porpoise. Your photo is nice and sharp with good natural colours. It's a good idea to have a group of sculptures in an outdoor setting like this.

Vince

kasianowak (17676) 2022-04-16 8:10

Hi Paul
That sounds like the story of my life. I moved to the UK 28 years ago. Made a career (including a short period as a Chief Executive of a small charity), bought a house etc. etc. But throughout that time I have been treated by some of the local Britons with sort of suspicion and dismay, especially in 2016-2017. In particular, the fact that I still "have an accent" has been often commented on in a critical way by complete strangers whom no one asked for an opinion! Having said that, I've also made many British friends. I think a similar number of my friends are British as other immigrants (individuals of various ethnic and national background rather than other Polish people).
Another thing I found interesting in your note is that there are accents in Belgium! I hope you don't mind me say, but I thought a country of that size would only have one accent in each of your languages, which I thought were Dutch and French but now I'm reading about East, West and French Flemish dialects as well! We have lots of accents in the UK, both native and foreign, but almost none of that stuff in Poland (maybe because people got mixed so much after WW2).
Anyway... :-)
I really like this series of 3 photos. The art is showcased nicely bathed in the late astronomical winter (or early meteorological spring) sunlight. The colours are wonderful and the composition adjusted in such a way to showcase those works in the best possible way.
Have a nice weekend
Kasia

Tue (93530) 2022-04-16 8:45

Hallo Paul,
Er spoelen nog al eens wat bruinvissen aan op de Noordzeekust, maar zelden zo'n kleurrijke als deze. Een mooi kunstwerk in the glooiende duinen en onder de strakblauwe lucht.
Lars

jhm (211738) 2022-04-16 11:10

Goedenavond Paul,

Uw foto straalt kwaliteit uit.
Mooi gefotografeerd en de kleuren zijn aangenaam.
Ook de duinen en blauwe lucht passen goed in het geheel
Goed foto werk Paul.

Prettig Paasweekend,
John

worldcitizen (16234) 2022-04-17 13:15

Hello Paul,
I hope you had a nice Easter. I like this trio of artwork by the shore. This one is colorful, and I also like that there are some footprints in the sand leading away from the art. In the WS, "Odysseus" looks like it might be a character in a horror movie! You already know that many older people here in the northeastern US retire to Florida, but sometimes they go to a desert setting like Arizona, or other warmer locations where the cost of living is cheaper. It all depends on what their top priority is. :-) Take care!

mkamionka (75197) 2022-04-24 12:22

Hi Paul,
Lovely structure and so very colorful!
In fact I intend to show some photos of whales in my reportage from Cape Verde. They are luckily not washed ashore but caught in the sea. I suppose you will judge by yourself whether it is worth to travel to Cape Verde. My trip was mainly a family beach holiday but of course I squeezed in some adventure as well. I am quite happy I went there. Boa Vista maybe for some people the most boring of the Cape Verdean islands but even on that island there was plenty to do for me.
I see you had some lovely weather in Belgium. No need to go to southern shores!
M

jmdias (116579) 2022-05-09 13:01

paul

a curious structure and sculpture imitating the skeleton of a whale. a nice view of this artwork in the open air.

take care

jorge