Changing currents – can we build a better world together?

This project, funded by Arup, saw students from Beal High School in Redbridge co-create work alongside Arup experts, artist collective super/collider and the River Roding Trust. Together they explored the human impact on the River Roding in Redbridge and the wider environmental issues.

Inspired by Arup’s commitment to consider the influence of the built environment on the natural world, the students drew on the differing experiences of time, scale and senses to explore the river from the perspectives of both human and non-human animals.

Over a number of weeks, the students visited the river, walking along the banks to consider the different types of pollution, including litter, noise, water, air and light, and their effect on the natural environment. Using hydrophones and simple light refraction techniques, they were able to explore what it might be like for species living under the water to navigate artificial light and dark spaces created by our built environment. They used infra-red photography to depict the environment through the eyes of species living within the habitat, while microscopes attached to student smart phones helped them discover the world in close-up. Students documented their work via drawings and photographs, using environmentally sustainable materials to create prototypes, images, and natural cyanotype prints of their discoveries. They recorded their emotional responses in booklets and audio recordings, all of which are on display in the exhibition.

Curated by super/collider, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the way we interact with the world around us, both individually and collectively, encouraging us to consider the actions we can take to shape a better world for ourselves and our future. A Tree of Hope will flourish throughout the duration of the show, collecting visitors’ thoughts and feelings, messages of hope and calls to action.

This project was funded by Arup

with thanks to
Arts Council England, River Roding Trust Arts Associate Andrew Brown, River Roding Trust, Beal High School and super/collider

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super/collider
Directors: Louise Beer and Melanie King. Both artists live in Thanet, Kent. Collaboratively, Louise and Melanie have curated 7 national and international artists residencies, 80 exhibitions and 80 events about art and science and have collaborated on numerous artwork commissions.

Founded in 2006, super/collider is an independent agency that celebrates and champions the connections between science, culture and creativity. Working in and with people from the creative industries, we explore science and bring its wonders and wisdom to new audiences through events, expeditions, books and artwork. super/collider has been commissioned by Space Studios (2022), Signal Film and Media (2022), Imperial College London (2020), Well Projects (2020), Bompas and Parr (2018).

Louise Beer is an artist and curator, born in Aotearoa New Zealand. She uses installation, moving image, photography and sound to explore humanity’s evolving understanding of Earth’s environments and the cosmos. Louise is currently a co-investigator on a Vera C. Rubin Observatory Grant at the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory, NZ where she is developing an artists residency with planetary astronomer Dr Michele Bannister. She has recently completed her CreaTures Art/ Tech/ Nature/ Culture Curatorial and Creative Residency and BigCi Environmental Art Award Residency in Australia. Louise is currently developing a commission for Derby Cathedral for FORMAT23 Photography Festival.

Melanie King is a working class artist and curator, originally from Manchester, UK. She is co-Director of super/collider, Lumen Studios and founder of the London Alternative Photography Collective. Melanie is a PhD Candidate at the Royal College of Art (2015-2022). She is Lecturer In Photography at Canterbury Christ Church University. Melanie is interested in the relationship between the environment, photography and materiality. Melanie intends to highlight the intimate connection between celestial objects (sun, moon, stars), photographic material and the natural world. Melanie is currently researching a number of sustainable photographic processes, to minimise the environmental impact of her artistic practice, informed by the Sustainable Darkroom movement.