dive
This stream invites you to dive into watery media poetics. Your guides are two river organisms Caddisfly Larva and Sludge Worm. Both are integral to understanding river health; both are vibrant actors that expand human-centered views of the world.
The stream shifts modes of address as part of its play with subjectivity and moves between virtual and documentary forms, amplifying the difficulty of translation and knowledge between water organisms and humans.
Scroll down for each stage of the dive and linger on chapters. Sound, film and text will mix. Swim and come up for air when you need to.
part 1
caddisfly larva
hide
between
stones & stems
where water runs 1
fresh 2 & clear 3
1 streams and rivers are never pure
2 the chemical composition of the river
sets the parameters for aquatic life
3 clean water is regarded as having very low levels
of chemicals or sediments originating from human activity
2 the chemical composition of the river
sets the parameters for aquatic life
3 clean water is regarded as having very low levels
of chemicals or sediments originating from human activity
build
a refuge 4
of bark & leaves 5
of bark & leaves 5
4 in the UK very few ecosystems are completely
unimpacted by human activity (arguably none at all)
5 fallen leaves in the water from trees along the river banks
provide essential food and resources for ecosystems
unimpacted by human activity (arguably none at all)
5 fallen leaves in the water from trees along the river banks
provide essential food and resources for ecosystems
a portable shelter 6
camouflage cocoon
camouflage cocoon
6 the concept of a healthy ecosystem
is quite an elusive one
is quite an elusive one
make
yourself
your surroundings 7
your surroundings
yourself
7 there are no unambiguous measures of what
an environment should be like
an environment should be like