Water carries memory and connection; the human body and nature are inherently inseparable. Yet space and historical narratives are often shaped by power and deliberately erased. We want to connect these two threads. The London Underground is precisely a space shaped by efficiency and rules—it dictates how you walk, where you go, and how fast you move. We want to reimagine it as an underground river: a river does not dictate direction; it connects, carries, and heals. Therefore, we plan to transform an abandoned Underground station into an immersive art space, using water, lighting, sound, and live performance to turn this space designed to “transport people” into a space where people “simply stop and exist.”
Drawing on hydrofeminism, we hope to explore the deep connections between water, the body, the environment, and power. By bringing water and performance into this space normally associated with movement and control, we hope to challenge how urban environments shape human behaviour, and encourage people to reconnect with their bodies and their surroundings. It will become a temporary utopia—a space to slow down, find healing, and build dignified connections.
At the same time, we keep in mind what our tutor said: do not preach to the audience, but use sensory experiences and metaphors to let people form their own connections; and avoid performative shock, maintaining care for the audience’s trauma.