Between late June and early July, Northern Irish artist and researcher Gail Ritchie began a residency at La Coupole, the French museum and remembrance site dedicated to the Nazi Occupation, the Holocaust, and the technological ambitions of World War II.
During this initial phase of her residency, Gail had the opportunity to engage deeply with the history and memory of the site through a variety of experiences. She began with a guided bike tour of the surrounding area, organised in partnership with Défi-Mobilité, which offered a unique perspective on the former bunker complex and rocket launch base once aimed at Allied cities (which ended up being never operational).
Over the course of two weeks, she immersed herself in the site’s multifaceted offerings, exploring the History Centre, the 3D Planetarium, and the archives, drawing inspiration for her sketchbooks and research notebooks. This period of exploration served as both an intellectual and emotional journey through a landscape marked by war, innovation, and remembrance.
Gail also engaged with the local community, speaking to students at the Capso Conservatoire Art School in Saint-Omer. Based in Belfast, she shared insights into how the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland feeds her artistic practice, sparking conversations around collective memory and creative expression.
As part of her research, she also visited other key World War II sites in the region, including the Éperlecques Blockhouse and Dunkirk, where commemorations marked the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
These first two weeks of residency have been rich in reflection and discovery. Gail will return in September to continue her work and will host a public meeting to share her creative process and experiences to date.
