variations of water and the refinery
[CHARON: The Gatekeeper of the Underworld]
Charon, a gruff old man, ferries the souls of the deceased across the rivers Acheron or Styx that divide the living world from the underworld. For passage, the dead needed a coin placed on their tongue during burial. Charon might be depicted as grumpy or even forceful, but his role was essential in the afterlife journey. Charon wasn’t known for his generosity. This custom ensured a smooth passage for the soul. Those who couldn’t pay, like the unburied or wicked, were condemned to wander the shores eternally, unable to enter the underworld.
[PLANT TO PURE CRYSTAL: Refining Sugar]
Refining sugar takes raw sugar, extracted from either sugarcane or sugar beets, and transforms it into the white, fine crystals we commonly use. The process removes impurities, color, and molasses, leaving pure sucrose.
variations of water and the refinery
the crafting of a melancholic landscape, dormant pools and the transformation of cane.
…of the Woolwich Thames estuary, one is served a pallet of history and industrial detritus, the military; a melancholic landscape where the past reverberates through the present. Tangential to the shadows of disused reservoirs and the muted hum of transport ferries, the spectral presence of sugar refining, new-builds, there is a feeling of abandonment.
Disused ‘reservoirs’, now overgrown, algae-rimmed, and silent, are pools of memory. Once graving docks, now they lie dormant, their surfaces reflecting the sky and council-flat windows in a still, uncanny mimicry. Standing at their perimeters, one could (if desired) hear the maintenance of engineers and the faint echo of machinery that once assembled shipping. These pools, their concrete walls stained and crumbling, serve as a poignant reminder of the impermanence of even the most vital structures.
…of the Woolwich Thames estuary, one is served a pallet of history and industrial detritus, the military; a melancholic landscape where the past reverberates through the present. Tangential to the shadows of disused reservoirs and the muted hum of transport ferries, the spectral presence of sugar refining, new-builds, there is a feeling of abandonment.
Disused ‘reservoirs’, now overgrown, algae-rimmed, and silent, are pools of memory. Once graving docks, now they lie dormant, their surfaces reflecting the sky and council-flat windows in a still, uncanny mimicry. Standing at their perimeters, one could (if desired) hear the maintenance of engineers and the faint echo of machinery that once assembled shipping. These pools, their concrete walls stained and crumbling, serve as a poignant reminder of the impermanence of even the most vital structures.
Transport ferries carve the waters of the Thames, their steady passage a reminder of continuity amidst change. These vessels, crossing back and forth with a sometimes irregular rhythm (closed, one boat service), seem to exist in a liminal space, connecting shores that hold the ghosts of industry. Each ferry, with its cargo of commuters and vehicles, bridges not only physical distances but also the chasm between here and there. The low, persistent rumble of engines blends with the river’s murmur, creating a soundscape that is both soothing and disquieting. These vessels, modern-day counterparts to Charon’s boat, ferry souls across the liquid boundary. Each journey a passage, not to the underworld, but to the opposite shore. Mechanical safety messages are released close to each vessels departure. They start, or end, with three mechanical notes on every reverse outward shunt of the steel hull(s).
The sugar refinery is on the opposite bank to Woolwich (Tate & Lyle). This massive structure, with its vascular exterior and thin chimneys, softens molasses centrifugally, transforming raw sugar into the refined sweetness that pacifies the city. The refinery, with its persistent productivity, might release air thick with the sweet cloying scent of molasses, yet from the south side little, no, olfactory gift — just clanks, low tones, flown through by gull sounds.
● variations of water and the refinery
Transport ferries carve the waters of the Thames, their steady passage a reminder of continuity amidst change. These vessels, crossing back and forth with a sometimes irregular rhythm (closed, one boat service), seem to exist in a liminal space, connecting shores that hold the ghosts of industry. Each ferry, with its cargo of commuters and vehicles, bridges not only physical distances but also the chasm between here and there. The low, persistent rumble of engines blends with the river’s murmur, creating a soundscape that is both soothing and disquieting. These vessels, modern-day counterparts to Charon’s boat, ferry souls across the liquid boundary. Each journey a passage, not to the underworld, but to the opposite shore. Mechanical safety messages are released close to each vessels departure. They start, or end, with three mechanical notes on every reverse outward shunt of the steel hull(s).
The sugar refinery is on the opposite bank to Woolwich (Tate & Lyle). This massive structure, with its vascular exterior and thin chimneys, softens molasses centrifugally, transforming raw sugar into the refined sweetness that pacifies the city. The refinery, with its persistent productivity, might release air thick with the sweet cloying scent of molasses, yet from the south side little, no, olfactory gift — just clanks, low tones, flown through by gull sounds.
● variations of water and the refinery
[GRAVING]
A graving dock, also known simply as a dry dock, is a large basin or dock that can be flooded to allow a ship to be floated in, then drained to allow the ship to rest on a dry platform. It’s typically used for construction, maintenance, and repair work on ships. Once a ship is in the graving dock and the water is pumped out, the vessel sits on blocks or keel blocks, allowing workers access to its hull for cleaning, inspection, maintenance, or repair. Graving docks are often equipped with pumps, cranes, and other machinery necessary for ship repair work.
[GRAVING]
A graving dock, also known simply as a dry dock, is a large basin or dock that can be flooded to allow a ship to be floated in, then drained to allow the ship to rest on a dry platform. It’s typically used for construction, maintenance, and repair work on ships. Once a ship is in the graving dock and the water is pumped out, the vessel sits on blocks or keel blocks, allowing workers access to its hull for cleaning, inspection, maintenance, or repair. Graving docks are often equipped with pumps, cranes, and other machinery necessary for ship repair work.
