The Waters of Sulis & Beyond
The City of Bath derives its name from its hot springs - the only hot springs in the UK.
They are known for their health-giving benefits, with the word Spa relating to the Latin phrase ‘Salus Per Aquam’ or ‘health through water’.
But our rivers are facing unprecedented health challenges, with none of England’s rivers free from chemical contamination.
With water ‘on tap’ in the UK, participating artists are asked to share what freshwater means to them by responding not with a direct perception of water but an alternative, abstract view.
Work should ideally be made with the full collaboration of the riverine, close to where the participating artists live. The images created will help to raise the profile of historic and social impacts humans have had on something we simply cannot live without, while offering mediation between people and freshwater.
Josie Purcell, part of the Harena Now series. Sand, sunlight, seawater and expired b&w photo paper.
Curated by Josie Purcell
Josie Purcell is a Cornwall-based eco-photographic artist. She is interested in the human impact on nature, with a focus on riverine/estuarine environmental issues.
Josie founded Cornwall’s first participatory eco-darkroom ShutterPod in 2012 and the Photopocence podcast in 2021.
Gaining a distinction in her Masters in Photography with Falmouth University for her work relating to the global sand crisis in 2018, Josie is now a Visiting Lecturer and part-time PhD researcher at the University.
Josie has exhibited internationally and runs eco-photo-art workshops in Cornwall.