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‘Inspired by a combination of Richard Deacons ‘Waterlog’ and Burt Lancaster in ‘The Swimmer’,(See Trailer)I set out to document the river Churn from the perspective of the surface of the water in the same way an Otter or Water Vole might see it.
Entering Cirencester the flow of the River Churn as well as its ecology and swim-ability is bought to a rude standstill as it led through culverts, underground tunnels and forced through sluice gates. The river seems ignored and pushed to one side as though its presence was not really welcome.
Forced onto dry land I found myself wandering around the town in a wet suit looking for the various channels. Understandably like a fish out of water, I attracted some attention and a few question. What better way to engage with local people and break the ice than to dress in questionable clothing and wander the town, intrigued people came to me. Accompanied by a similarly clad camera man we eventually ended the day drinking Sloe Gin with Mrs Rankin of Rankin Taylor antiques listening to tales of 3ft floods washing the labels off all the wine in the cellar as the Churn reminded people of its true potential.
I started to ask questions of why the river is not celebrated like many cities do? Perhaps its un-navigable, slow moving flow has never allowed it the status afforded to the great rivers.
The filming and documentation will continue over the next few months, in a true reflection of Burt Lancaster in ‘The Swimmer’ we will eventually arrive at the rivers end as leaves fall from the trees and we move into the Autumn months.
Installation Shots
