Follow Y/Our River
Towards a specific transition you have in mind for yourself. Visualise a bridge that connects your current self to the self that has achieved that transition. Allow yourself to embody this journey as you move across the bridge, becoming fully present in the moment of transformation.
Follow Y/Our River, 2022-2023
Lower Lea Valley, East London UK
The project began as an artists' residency tracing the River Lea from its source to its confluence with the Thames at Canning Town. We aim to explore the intersection of ecological awareness, personal development, and
research-creation as it relates to riverine environments.
In the autumn of 2022, we embarked on a transformative journey through
the Lea Valley, tracing the fluid narratives of the river Lea from its historical essence to its present-day incarnation. This residency born from a reunion
at the river Lea Bow Locks—once the cradle of msdm publications studio—unfolded as a profound exploration of the river's multifaceted identity.
The Lea Valley, with its rich tapestry of ancient water sources, industrial waterways, and urban hydro-spectacles, served as a living archive, chronicling humanity's evolving relationship with water—from a revered
deity to a commodified resource.
This journey was not merely a passage through space but a deep engagement with the river's temporal flow, revealing the intricate connections between human and non-human entities along its banks. The residency inspired the development of innovative, hybrid relational methods of portraiture, capturing the essence of mobility and interconnectedness that characterizes life along the Lea. Through these methods, hḗrā and paula inscribed rituals into the landscape of the Lower Lea Valley and the remnants of the East London Waterworks, creating a dialogue with the river's past and present. Meanwhile, tamara's interactions with the diverse inhabitants of the river—people, animals, and plant life—began at the river's mouth, extending thirty miles north beyond the confines of London.
Employing photography and walking as primary tools of investigation, the trio navigated through the Lea Valley's archaeological, ecological, sculptural, and archival sites. This approach allowed them to weave a narrative that is at once personal and universal, highlighting the river as a site of continuous transformation and a mirror reflecting our collective journey through time and nature.
paula roush
tamara stoll
hḗrā santos
Performance:
Hḗrā: Performing The Book, Borough Road Gallery London
Workshop
Conceptualised for the Follow Y/Our River project, the workshop offers a detailed exploration and reinterpretation of landscapes, engaging with political, social, economic, infrastructural, and environmental dimensions. It highlights the importance of small-scale, personal experiences and physical engagement with the environment, offering a richer, more detailed understanding of place. paula and tamara guided participants through the key principles of deep mapping during the workshop.
Follow Y/Our River workshop
Publishing Events:
Related works:
contact
paula roush ::: paularoush@gmail.com
msdm studio ::: msdm@msdm.org.uk