WINDTALES

​ Andros is famous for its winds, which can be very strong and sometimes last for days, as is the case across the Kyklades. There are different winds. It comes from the mountains and is called the Meltemi. Then there's the cold wind from the north, which brings blue skies with ever-changing clouds and high waves. And there are the mean and humid winds from the south, which bring grey skies and litter to the coast. I like this one the least.
Sometimes it goes on for days, howling around the house and shaking the doors and windowpanes. It swirls around people until they give in and huddle in their houses. It ruffles through our old, patient olive trees and rushes through dry grass, which is as light as the wind itself, so they dance together. There is so much movement that it can make you feel a little dizzy. Not everyone can stand it so well; some people get angry or nervous — that wind can really get to you. One time, the wind blew for two weeks in a row and was so strong that everyone complained. Sometimes i find it annoying, too, but not this time. I was fascinated by the unnerving effort of this element dancing through all of us, making us shake so hard that no one could stay fixed in place. The wind is ruthless, loud and unnerving. It dances on the water, challenges the plants' rootedness and tugs at everything that isn't strong and flexible. You need a strong centre to get through it. I reckon the wind itself needs a strong centre too, so it can dance like this, twirl and swirl. The drawings are made by the wind itself; I just gave it the means to record its ongoing motions for a while. I watched it make the pencils twitch, dance and swirl in the storm on our terrace, and listened to the tale it told.