objects and photographs, 2024
„Rivalia” is a multi-faceted artistic research project focusing on the relationship between cities and rivers, both in the context of their past (through the study of archaeological materials and old maps) and their future (through the study of urban plans). The project was initiated during the residency in Prague and will be continued in the Gulf of Gdansk area in cooperation with the Department of Hydrology of the University of Gdansk.
The project is based on a collection of selected cultural texts and material evidence. One of its elements is a series of hand-made ceramic tiles based on an index found in the appendix of the historical map of Prague. Each tile measures 8×13 cm and represents a type of urban landscape, including different types of vegetation, crops and water reservoirs. Another element is a series of pinhole photographs showing river regulation points in the city – including water thresholds or canalised riverbeds. The long exposure time of the photographs emphasises the relationship between static architecture and the dynamics of flowing water. The project also includes references to proto-European mythology: based on illustrations from the literature on river communities, I created animal-human hybrids in clay, referring to ancient beliefs about the cycle of life-death-regeneration.
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