Made in the River / Made by the Marsh

Creatures Made by the Marsh

“… so magical, and the creatures  lack of language is striking, with the amorphous, phantasmagorical skins – piles of leaves and plastic taking on new forms.” (Commentary from Richard Couzins)

 

 

During a period of extended research Made in the River (MITR) continues a collaboration with other rivers, artists, projects and collectives across the Thames Estuary and elsewhere (including on the Periyar River, Kerala South India, the Rivers Medway and Mardyke, Thames Delta and on other European River projects) to co-create a watery commons – a collective imagination project that speaks to and for each river’s unique vitality.

From February 2025 to May 2027 Made in the River (MITR) works with InspiralLondon in the Hoo Peninsula, on the marshlands of North Kent and Essex across the Thames Delta, co-creating workshop exchange and wandering with WHOOP festival, T-100 Walking Festival and Made in the River / Made by the Marsh artistic research. This project introduces the creatures emerging from the marshes and its Thamesside environments. Creatures from the future-past, displaying features of new life forms, made from a wonderful mixture of natural and inorganic alchemy.

For more info. please email: contact@inspirallondon.com

 

 

Made by the Marsh Event for WHOOP Festival 2026 (16th to 17th May 2026)

As part of WHOOP Artist programme InspiralLondon took up residence on the western fringe of the Hoo Peninsula, in the magical marshy hinterlands of the Thames Delta, by St Marys Church Higham. Here, artists Charlie Fox and Sylak Ravenspine were joined by Inspirallers Richard Couzins and Grant Smith for 2 days of creaturely exploration. Made in the River/Made by the Marsh workshop exchange and wandering, introduced visitors to the marshy creatures emerging from this unique Thamesside environment.

Saturday 16th May morning 11-1.30pm Creature making workshop – Made by the Marsh. Using found materials already collected and selected, collecting wild plants to weave into the creature skins.

Saturday 16th May afternoon 2 – 3.30pm Creature making workshop alongside a living display of the emerging creatures. This includes hybrid material collection and samples which can be viewed under a digital microscope to see how new life is remaking, regenerating  and transforming the materials.

Around 3.45pm the creatures made an unexpected appearance in and around the churchyard.

 

 

Sunday 17th May morning 11-1.30 (Lunch) Creature making workshop alongside a living display of the hybrid material collection and samples from the marshy Thames using a simple microscope and other devices.

Sunday 17th May afternoon 2-4pm Final making and dressing workshop for the creatures including a time to pre-perform creatures in the Church Graveyard from 3.45pm.

All images made with inspirallondon. Project supported by InspiralLondon, WHOOP and Friends of St Marys Church Higham and in loose association with MITR Made in the River.