River of Memories is a cyanotype print on fabric (2.7m x 65cm) that explores personal and collective connections to Chouane Lake, part of the Ibrahim River near Jbeil, Lebanon, my homeland. The project reflects on how colonial interventions and industrialisation have caused severe environmental degradation, making rivers, once central to community life, increasingly inaccessible.

Inspired by the rehabilitation of the River Lea in London and its renewed public engagement, the work considers how memories of a river can be preserved and reimagined when the physical space is lost to pollution and ecological decline. Through a series of six cyanotype-printed photographs, the project presents memories of Chouane Lake shared by friends. These images humanise the river, highlighting its role as a site of emotional connection, tranquillity, and shared experiences. Drawing from Caribbean photographer Lisandro Suriel's¹ exploration of landscapes and emotions, as well as the cyanotype techniques of interdisciplinary artist Ayesha Hameed[² photographic artist Annie Hogan³, the project experiments with fabric's tactile and fluid qualities to reflect the concept of moving memories.

The deep, vibrant blue of the cyanotype stood out to me. That colour evoked nostalgia, bringing back memories from the past. It seemed like the perfect medium to represent emotions and recollections. The use of fabric felt particularly appropriate due to its mobility and tactile nature, which best reflect the fluidity of memories as they move through time. River of Memories also engages with Dilip da Cunha's The Invention of Rivers⁴ (2018), which critiques the imposition of rigid river boundaries and underscores the consequences of altering water systems for economic gain. French-mandated agricultural policies reshaped Chouane Lake's ecosystem, disrupting local habitats and causing long-term degradation.

Ultimately, River of Memories addresses how colonial interventions have erased access to vital waterbodies. By preserving recollections of Chouane through cyanotype, the project seeks to reconnect people with a disappearing landscape, urging awareness and action before the river is lost from collective memory.

¹Suriel, L. (n.d.).https://www.lisandrosuriel.com ²Hameed, A. (2021). I sing of the sea, I am mermaid of the trees. Liverpool Biennial. https://archive.biennial.com/2021/exhibition/artists/ayesha-hameed ³Hogan, A. (n.d.). Cyanotype photographs. Retrieved from https://www.anniehogan.com ⁴Da Cuhna, Dilip. The Invention of Rivers: Alexander's Eye and Ganga's Descent. University of Pennsylvania Press. 2018.