In Amphibious Trilogies ‘pond’ is used to refer to a range of concepts: a small body of still water surrounded by land; a habitat; a water hole; a swamp; a compound; ripples; reflections; pond scum; a garden for natal amphibious creatures.
All of these senses of the term ‘pond’ are related to the kinetic and biologic life of ponds. Pond is situated in a range of contexts and activities. Each of these is placed within the wider frame of an extended choreography. Ecology, historical anthropology and social welfare are connected to ponds.
The origin and meaning of the word ‘pond’ is a variant of ‘pound’, an artificially banked body of water, a confined enclosure. As a verb pond means to hold back or dam up water or other fluid things.
Whether natural or artificially formed, ponds vary in shape, size and usage. Ponds may fill up with water in the wet season, becoming dormant in the dry season when the water evaporates. Usually devoid of fishy competition and predation, ponds provide a haven for the development of natal amphibian and insect species. Ponds forming on melting ancient glaciers harbour an abundance of living micro-organisms.
As ponds are relatively small enclosures, both animal and human-made activities and climate change have an impact on a pond’s ecosystem. But that’s not all.
Pondering is a time for thinking about things carefully, a pause to reflect upon something really important. As such, the pond thematic serves as a reminder that it is also important to be able to communicate with vulnerable persons; the very young and the very old, and those who are forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations.
Click & Drag: Rotate the view.
Right Click & Drag: Pan the view.