River Requiem
Characterised by climate change, global warming and rising sea levels the impending Anthropocenic age is set to impact irreversibly on the natural world. River Requiem imagines the consequences for the North Sea coast, the Wash and the East Midlands of future catastrophic flooding and attempts to raise awareness of the fragility of the Nene Valley based on an exploratory journey along the River Nene from its Northamptonshire source to its last tidal point.
Large scale mono print (6m x 1.5m) reflecting imagined aspects of the swollen river in the event of flooding of the Nene Valley and suggesting its effects on natural and constructed features along its surge.
The artist visited 22 bridges along the course of the River Nene, potentially in danger of destruction and submersion in future flooding.
Natural materials were gathered in the vicinity of each bridge and used to construct individually named memorial wreaths.
The memorial wreaths were then taken to the last point at which the River Nene becomes tidal, the Dog-in-a-Doublet sluice, where they were ritually returned to the river by being cast into the water and left to make their way to the sea.
The ceremony was documented for use in raising awareness and as a contribution to the Nenescape Landscape Partnership Scheme.
