Cabinet of the River

This project addresses the experience of walking along the embankment of the River Taf, located in Cardiff, Wales. The final 'cabinet of curiosities' style artefact encapsulates my sensory journey along the river, capturing the form of the water within a tangible paper sculpture.

I became inspired by the work of poet Philip Gross, most notably the poem entitled, ‘Folding the River’, which led me to explore the intricate movement of the river through experimental sketching and iterative model making techniques. I became particularly inspired by a specific line within the poem, which referenced a traditional Japanese technique used to fold paper - Orihon.

I produced a series of ‘Orihon’ books and attempted to capture my experience through sensory and observational artwork. I immersed myself within the river environment, using materials and capturing sights from along the riverbank. I was most interested in the way the water moved, observing the water droplets and current which created intricate patterns

The final artefact was created from two interlocking large sheets of paper, which were then ‘folded’ and shaped to produce a form mimetic of the flow of the River Taf. The high contrast and intricate detailing of the sculpture reflected the interaction of light and shadow upon the river water, with the three-dimensional form immersing the viewer within the movement of the River Taf.