A core element of our collaborative work is to investigate links between the concepts that intrigue us and various social or historical events that often form the entry point into a particular project. Our endeavors often begin in past events or locations that have a place in the wider social sphere beyond a strictly artistic context. We therefore find it important to create work out of these origins that has a relevance or interest for not only an art audience but also the public at large

As a collaborative duo we are interested in the empiricism of the human condition and the investigation, archaeology and archiving of historic events that have personal or cultural meaning to us. We are deeply concerned with the evolution of constructed human systems and the resulting
consequences upon those places and people that are left behind when such systems evolve or break down. We also share a fascination with notions of physicality and endurance and the effect of unpredictable or difficult environmental conditions on body and psyche. These are the fundamental areas of concern to our artistic practice. They have led us to work together and they led us to this project.

The Delaware and Hudson Canal and our exploration of it, embodies all of those points mentioned above that intrigue us as people and as artists.

It was in the end a privilege to embark on this journey and we both feel that the canal opened up some of its secrets to us as we navigated its path. During the expedition we climbed over cliffs where the canal seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. We pushed through impossibly thick undergrowth hoping that the towpath wouldn’t vanish under our feet and leave us lost in the woods again. We met many wonderful and interesting people. Many of them had stories to tell of the canal’s history or were keen to understand our project and help us on our way.

Ultimately this was a journey of self discovery as much as an artistic endeavour and neither of us knew at the start how much the life and remains of this extraordinary canal would affect us. Even now as we work on the project back in New York City after our completion of the trek new ideas continue to work their way to the surface. The trek is already a memory but the canal itself has, in our minds, been brought back to vibrant and colourful life. We hope others discover some of the fascination that we found in the canal and its landscape so that it can become, as it has for us, a part of their own contemporary journey.