Speaking of the River - Constance De Jong (2000)

In the shadow of the landmark sky scrapers is an installation that delves beneath the modern exterior of Canary Wharf’s business hub.

Located along Riverside Walk on the bank of the Thames, Speaking Of The River appears as two benches looking out accross the water.

Featuring interviews with Isle of Dogs residents old and new, De Jong has compiled a living history describing the sights, sounds and smells of the Dockland’s past alongside the dreams and aspirations of the Islanders.

The commentary is constructed with segments of unedited speech, repetition, natural sounds and spoken and musical performance and is activated by the sitter passing over a sensor in the bench.

Played through speakers, the recording is juxtaposed against elements – the weather, light, time of day and surrounding activity.

Constance De Jong is a performance and video artist and writer based in New York and her installations have been exhibited all over the world.

Speaking Of The River has a counterpart in Battery Park City, New York. The two sites have comparable histories paralleled through shipping, industry, decline, neglect and regeneration.