A Crip Body of Water (pacing is vital for energy flows), 2023

Trailer ~ 3mins

Access notes: There are two voices corresponding to closed caption subtitle. There is no other sound. A female sounding voice speaks in Welsh language, a male sounding voice speaks in English language, with a light west midlands lilt. There is a transcript for this trailer available through vimeo.

This work spans two forms:

A moving-image work
Single channel video, 4K, stereo sound, 31′ 05″
Currently on display at the Watershed exhibition,
MAC Birmingham, 29 June – 5 Nov 2023 

A fatigue accessible audio trail
Audio, stereo sound via smartphone, Sited at Elan Valley, 38′ 20″
Available via Spotify: bit.ly/crip-body-of-water

Download the accessible PDF guide here:
English – EN dark mode   ;   Cymraeg – CY dark mode
English – EN light mode   ;    Cymraeg – CY light mode

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Development and produced as a part of Rowena’s two part residency hosted by Elan Links and MAC, Birmingham. The hybrid artwork that spans a moving-image form and audio work sited at Elan Valley, is inspired by the water and energy management systems of Elan Valley in relation to life altering fatigue. The narrative is spoken from the position of water, in combined Welsh and English language, and takes inspiration from pacing practices for fatigue and radical habitation of space and time living with fatigue creates. It’s aims are to re-narrativise this landscape for sick, crip and disabled bodies that are often excluded.

The hybrid form functions as a creative response to access needs specific to fatigue, offering remote access in combination with a site-specific fatigue-accessible engagement with a particular reservoir and dam at Elan Valley known as Caban Coch. The are two optional routes or locations for the audio work, designed to support different access requirements and energy availability – a gentle 30 min walk with opportunities to rest; or a seating viewing point overlooking the dam and reservoir.