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“Under the Bridge Water and Air” represents a dynamic collaboration between Bandung-based collective Rakarsa and Glasgow-based collaborative duo, Walker&Bromwich, primarily addressing pressing environmental concerns, focusing on air and water quality.

This partnership aims to combat the climate emergency by fostering solidarity between two distinct communities in separate countries through knowledge exchange through artistic activities that will be facilitated by both collaborators. Building resilience and empowering these communities to confidently address climate issues locally and independently in the future while collectively addressing shared global issues.

The project focussed on two key river and motorway systems running like arteries through these two cities, and the attendant pollution issues, it works with two geographically distant communities most affected by these issues, to create artistic processes that take active steps towards addressing these issues. This project will share social practices across continents through two long-term existing embedded projects that are working towards greener environmental urban centres. The projects Cleaning the River (Bandung)* and Clean Air Campaign (Glasgow)* Created over the last three years by artist collective Rakarsa and Walker&Bromwich respectively with their attendant communities The Pulosari Mothers Bandung, Pertiwi Elementary school. Sunnyside School of Conservation & On Bikes (Glasgow) come together to co-create “Under the Bridge, Water and Air”.

The process will take place in hybrid form: Online through workshops led by Sunnyside School, Glasgow and Pertiwi School, Bangdung on creative processes they have experienced. Community’s (Glasgow/Bangdung) will also evolve new work in tandem led by the home artist collectives; both groups will employ Foldscopes to collect visual imagery around water and air pollution in both places this will take place through a series of parallel walks along the two river systems & adjacent roads/motorways. The visual imagery will form the foundation of textile work to be made into wearable art and social sculpture.

The lead artist’s will physically exchange places Vincent Rumahloine (Rakarsa) will travel to Glasgow to take part in the work that is being led by Walker & Bromwich around the Motorways and river there, through, #CleanAirCampaign* He will lead workshops on cleaning the river applying learning developed in Bandung. Walker&Bromwich will travel to Bandung to share processes around, #CleanAirCampaign, they will lead art and active transport workshops along the road networks close to the Cikapundung River Bandung. They will also take part in the cleaning the river project in Bandung adding their creativity to this.

“Under the Bridge Water and Air” works with marginalised communities on both sides of the equator from challenging social and economic backgrounds and as such they share issues around social, environmental and economic deprivation. This project creates kinship and generates leaps in imaginative thinking within communities that would not normally have the opportunity to get together, share struggles, creative processes and grassroots action’s that work towards empowered and environmentally improved community living. This process will generate new innovative collectively made artwork in the form of a 2 large hand-made wall maps, Social Sculptures, wearable art, printed hand-outs a two sided map/catalogue and video documentary.