Scarpe-Crinchon was part of Appel d'air Biennale d'art contemporain on 1, 2 & 3 April 2022 in Arras. The project was a result of proposition OPRUER.erbe (25).
Various Artists.ALL, Scarpe-Crinchon, Installation view, 2022 (ceramic plates by Christelle Perrier)
In many cities, usually for health reasons. City planners tended to cover small streams without considering the ecological consequences. This has been disastrous for wildlife. Rivers provide food, water for survival and corridors for migration. Rivers and streams are highways for non-humans.
In this fictitious proposal, Various Artists want to dam 3 rivers that feed Arras: the Gy, the Scarpe and the Crinchon. By building the Fampoux dam, the project draws the attention of the inhabitants of Arras to the importance of water in all its splendour, not only for them but also for the whole ecosystem. The artificial lake, the Scarpe-Crinchon, offers a moment of reflection and humility for anyone looking beyond purely economic interests.
The presence of running water was once the main reason why humans settled and built a community. In the city, who knows which valley we are in at any given time? It reminds us that we are separated from the geographical origin of our cities.
Damming a river is like caging a wild animal.
Christelle Perrier & Various Artists.MABCIN, 2022: The streets of Arras named after a woman (left), after a man (middle) and after the waters (right)
Various Artists.WAROMA, Earth View, 2022, digital collage
Various Artists.OMAZOO (ACG.key), Barragem, 2022, postcards
Various Artists.WAROMA, l'âme instantanée d'Arras, 2022, digital painting.
∞ Scarpe-Crinchon is part of season Água com Gás (2014-22)