msdm a nomadic house-studio-gallery for photographic art and curatorial research, an expanded practice of the artist's book, photobook publishing and peer-to-peer collaboration created by contemporary artist paula roush
TITLE: Follow y / our river lea-minal edges
prompts for transitory states of being
PHOTOGRAPHY + TEXTS+ EDITORIAL DESIGN:
paula roush, tamara stoll + hḗrā santos
TYPESETTING: The Modern Designer
FORMAT: open book with enclosure
PAGES: 142 (variable, depending on folding used)
DIMENSIONS: 42 x 29.7 x 2 cm (enclosure)
PAPER: uncoated matt recycled paper (various gsm)
BINDING: 3 posters with instructions to fold into pocketbooks,
19 loose leave folios, 1 sewn book ( 2 pamphlets), 1 glued book
(perfect binding), 3 loose postcards, in enclosure with labels
PROCESS: Indigo
COLOUR: Colour and black and white
EDITION: 100
PUBLICATION LICENSE: Creative Commons
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
YEAR: 2023
ISBN: 978-1-7390996-4-0
PUBLISHER:
msdm publications + road less travelled press
£57
online store
The Lea Valley, a landscape in perpetual flux, serves as the foundational canvas for "Follow y/our river," a project initiated in the autumn of 2022 by paula, hḗrā, and tamara. This endeavor, rooted in the historical and contemporary narratives of the river Lea, traces its journey from ancient waterways through industrial channels to its present incarnation as an urban spectacle. The river's transformation—from a revered natural force to a commodified resource—mirrors humanity's evolving relationship with the environment, encapsulating the shift from communal reverence to individual exploitation.
The residency embarked upon by paula, hḗrā, and tamara sought to engage with the Lea Valley's dynamic identity, employing hybrid relational methods of portraiture to capture the essence of both human and non-human subjects along its banks. This approach, integrating rituals for transitory states of being into the landscape, reflects a deep interrogation of the river's role as a conduit for change and continuity. The project's methodology—spanning photography, walking, and direct engagement with the river's diverse inhabitants—reveals the Lea Valley as a site of archaeological depth, ecological resilience, sculptural beauty, and archival richness.
contact
paula roush ::: paularoush@gmail.com
msdm studio ::: msdm@msdm.org.uk