Rivers act as material archives, capturing and preserving traces of history. Urban rivers, often seen as dumping grounds, accumulate discarded objects—such as bricks, glass shards, and shells—that reflect various eras. These discarded items are witnesses to society's evolution. Each object, whether a modern plastic bottle or a piece of ancient pottery, carries the memory of a specific moment in time. While the river's flow symbolises the passage of time, these remnants collect and contribute to a collective memory. In this way, rivers are living archives, preserving elements of the past that might otherwise be lost.

The project Flowing Memories: A Temporal Archive of the River seeks to explore how rivers hold and actively 'digest' history by collecting discarded objects from the banks of the River Thames and documenting them in their current form. As these items are transported, eroded and reshaped by currents, the river symbolically dissolves and reconfigures the past. This process positions the river as a dynamic force that preserves history while simultaneously reshaping it, illustrating the intricate interplay between memory, history, and nature.

The audience is invited to reflect on the river's role as an active participant in the environment, witnessing its silent yet powerful role. The river is not merely passive; it serves as a force that reflects the imbalances of human behaviour, particularly those influenced by industrialisation and capitalism. In this context, the river becomes a symbol of environmental change and a poignant reminder of the power dynamics and histories of exclusion that have shaped—and continue to influence—our relationship with the natural world.