Thresholds, RSA University of Reading, MA final Degree Show

September 10th – 13th, 2026

Red River/Seedfall (2026),

Seeds from red leafed dock and curly dock plants, gold leaf, wood glue and 32gsm Kozo paper.

4910*967mm

Dock (Rumex) is best known to relieve the sting of the nettle. It provides shelter and food for over 80 species of insect and is a food for wintering birds. Yet, Dock is still listed on the 1959 Weeds Act which is in place ‘to control the spread of plants considered problematic on agricultural land’ (from the Royal Horticultural Society website).

What is less widely known is that it has an important role in ecosystem regeneration, the seeds can remain dormant for up to 80 years and, its rapid colonization can help restore areas lost to fire amongst other things – the very thing that it is useful for is the reason it appears in the Weeds Act. In addition to their rapid growth rates, their deep, robust roots work hard as Hyperaccumulators.  This means that they can naturally extract, tolerate, and store toxic substances from contaminated environments. They do this by phytoextraction, rhizofiltration and phytostabilization. They are particularly able at stopping heavy metals and other contaminents from washing into clean water tables.

It seemed appropriate therefore, to represent the waterfall with dried Dock which is a deep red; a red river, bloody and wounded. What hides beneath is the gold leaf: the money that fuels ongoing destruction: for it is private extraction that is destroying our rivers in the UK.

Setting the scene

To set the scene in a baroque aesthetic and give Red River/Seedfall centre stage, the walled area is framed with packaging paper that act as curtains would on the stage. This abundant material, added to almost every delivery, though scrunched and torn in places is extremely versatile and can be ‘sculpted’ into almost any form. The Linden Seed Fascination pieces and Petrified Hydrangea have been placed onto a indented table along with the transparent branches (made out of epoxy resin), which is a kind of curiosity cabinet. On the wall I have hung two ivy carcasses and another fall banner which is made out of sloe ink.