Thalweg

Do rivers have a voice? What are their rights? Who can stand for them?

Thalweg is a site-specific participatory choral promenade by the artist collaboration Convex, formed by Laura Guarch and Sarah Le Quang Sang. Thalweg is a singing and walking promenade along the bed of the River Thames in Rotherhithe. It explores the cultural and spiritual connections between the World rivers that acquired legal personhood status, their home communities and river rights.

The Universal Declaration of River Rights states that rivers - not people - own the water that flows within them and that the river flow must maintain the entire ecosystem health. Rivers from India, New Zealand and Colombia are considered as living entities by their communities and have recently acquired legal personhood status to protect those rights. How can we protect the Thames? How do we relate to the Thames as Londoners?

On the weekend previous to Thalweg performances, Convex will be holding participatory workshops bringing together communities from India, New Zealand, Colombia and the wider London community. In this workshop, you will be able to connect with different river cultures and take part in the creation of Thalweg. We will practice group singing and the promenade routes along the Thames in Rotherhithe. Music will be accessible to all levels including those with no musical experience and will be composed specifically for this event. As a workshop participant you will be ready, alongside us and our collaborating artists, to lead the audience through Thalweg on the following weekend.

By booking a ticket for the workshop you will get a free ticket for Thalweg.

If you prefer to just attend the performance, then book a ticket for Thalweg.

Supported by the Mayor of London’s Culture Seeds