What Can We Learn from Water? Gemma Moore P.O.V. Creative Response.

Duration: 1 minute, 28 seconds

Video, as a medium, is able to succinctly portray a sense of physically being in a space. It captures more than a moment, like a photograph can, and enables viewers to experience the artist's process. This is because elements can also be collected as well as visuals, like sound. Video is a portal in which people can go back and re-visit another moment in the past for however many times they would like to. It borders timelessness, particularly when capturing nature and manmade structures that have existed for millennia, like bridges, rivers and the Teme Valley, which is the concept that inspired the project. 

I was initially drawn to the concept of how endless water seemed. It passes constantly without anyone really noticing, unless they stopped to look, and yet without water, we as the human race would not exist. I know that this is a tried and tested idea, the links between human and life and water, but..

The physicality or quiddity of water has many parallels with the human idea of life because water could be perceived as a metaphor of time. Time doesn't stop although we may wish it did, because time does go so quickly, too quick to stop and think, like the water's movements. If water was to be cusped in hands, it would not stay; instead, it would slip away. To prevent this, water could be poured into a sealed container to prevent movement. Our interpretation of the idea of time stopping may of course be affected by the fact that we have, globally, experienced what a 'lockdown' looks like aesthetically, so perhaps that is one way in which we can relate to this comparison of water, time and life. 

This idea also lends itself to the perception of social class structures (which I learnt over the P.O.V. Creative Weekend are apparent, even out in the countryside) because the way in which the water smoothly transgresses should be a reflection of what society looks like. Observing the Teme Valley's water was a therapeutic process and activity because it was so frictionless and rhythmic, I could have spent hours watching. For me, the water's movements physically represented how social hierarchies could be blurred and how there could be, potentially, greater equality for generations to come.  

Reflection on the creative weekend in the Teme Valley

Exploring the physical landscape and investigating the many local communities of my area has been an amazing and intriguing experience. I have learnt so much in a very short space of time about what characterises my local area and the project has refreshed older memories, which has been lovely. 

We started by visiting and consulting young local people to discuss the feelings, responses, thoughts and emotions they experience when considering the space in which they live. The vast variety of responses were incredibly eye-opening, and it enabled me to perceive other people's perspective and reflections on the area, besides my own. 

Many of the responses I noticed were similar to mine - "the transport is very poor," "it can be trapping," and "it is difficult to get about." Simultaneously, the positive responses to the area were similar to my thoughts - the wonders of freedom, the beautiful landscape and lastly, the peace and tranquility, which I think in this world can be difficult to discover. Also, many of the young people pointed out that in small communities there is no anonymity - everyone seems to know everyone else, "you knew my brother who knew a friend, that friend knew this guy and then they knew me..."

With all of this in mind, not only was this activity intriguing by gaining multiple perspectives, but I felt as if I could fully relate to people. Each time someone said that they experience feelings of loneliness, I have felt the same. I have noticed how the only time I am able to socialise outside of my family would be in my university city, Birmingham, when I am at the Birmingham School of Art, pursuing my Masters in Fine Art. When I am at home, unless I am having online meetings, I can't talk to other young enthusiastic artists about art. There may be options to solve this issue: 1) move away.... but that isn't necessarily the answer. Why should I have to leave my home just because of the lack of transport and there are not many contemporary art spaces for young people? Furthermore, the price of housing is not accessible for young people, as it is so expensive... We are the future but we don't seem to have much freedom when it comes to deciding where we would like to live. This leads me onto considering the social class differences that, as I have learnt, have been made apparent, even out in the countryside, a space where you may not associate with social class. 

By Gemma Moore