A Tour of Lapland, Is a mythical retelling of Carl Linnaeus’ journey of the same name made in the summer of 1732, told through 4 hand animated gifs. A heavily fictional retelling, it follows Linnaeus as he discovers Andromeda polifolia on a baron post glacial single beach in the Swedish interior. I was Linnaeus’ Lapland expedition that would heavily influence his contribution to nomenclature.

While stationed in Östersund, I won a boat through a game of Tablut, played against the town fishmonger; intending to head across Storsjön lake and then the vast rocky moor that the locals refer to as the Trojan Wall.

When the wind changed the next morning, I proceeded on my expedition, continuing to search for what this new silent land may hold.

As they have consistently been on my travels thus far, the lark that tirra-lirra chaunts was my constant companion as I set off on this next leg of my journey.

Doing as I had been taught by a Sámi companion a week earlier, I turned the boat bottom upwards, placing the two oars longitudinally, so as to cross the seats; these rested on my arms as I carried the boat over my head.

Thus I scampered away over the trojan expanse, so that the devil himself could not have come up with me.

From under the boat my view was impaired, seeing only the ground and its character below me.

Then I spotted it peeking from beneath the bead of pebbles, a small sprout with what appeared to have a violent and lavender flower arching from its stem.

It’s leaves resembled that of rosemary yet it’s flower the colour of heather. Living in hostility the flower stretches to the sun.

Andromeda, imprisoned, bound to rock, awaiting rescue; her arms stretch and flail awaiting Perseus.