In a moment of pure creativity, Lance, having found three blank canvasses in the move to Blackwood, chose to create a triptych based on the origins of the Sirhowy river, from Siôn-Sieffre’s Reservoir as it turns south toward Tredegar.
Since the move to Blackwood, the Sirhowy river has proven to be a major source of inspiration for Earthwaves, particularly for Mike who is investigating the terrain and landscape of the Sirhowy river as shown in previous posts. While Mike is involved in the earth of the area, Lance is deep into investigation of the water.
“Birth of the Sirhowy” was created by projecting a map of the river onto the canvases – starting with the Siôn-Sieffre’s Reservoir at the top left – and tracing it by pencil onto them. The concept was to have the colour of the river constant while the dominant colour of each canvas was different; initially in primary colours which gradually became more textured.
As Lance gradually evolved the piece, some insights emerged:
“I began to understand the nature of rivers, not as merely a flow of water, but as something much more significant. Historically, rivers are where humans tend to settle by for essential water supplies, particularly where farming is concerned. But more than that – and this is where significance accords with the aims of Earthwaves – rivers cannot be easily contained; they rush through borders, break boundaries constructed by humans, carving their own path through the landscape regardless. While humans continue to build boundaries, borders, separations to keep each other apart, rivers have the ability to flow through them”.
Water is an amazing substance, more powerful and essential than we realise. We, as a race, feel we can control and contain it, through the likes of dams and reservoirs. But this control is fragile, illusory, and takes a lot of effort to maintain; ultimately water cannot be controlled, much as human ego wishes it to be.
Our landscape is carved by rivers, glaciers, water in all its forms. We owe our existence to it. As such, it should be respected, not taken for granted. Earthwaves understands the importance of water and will continue to work with, celebrate and honour this incredible natural phenomenon in all its forms.