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M U D L A R K
I M A G I N A R I E S
FOR MUDLARKS THAT SEARCH FOR LONDONS LOST PAST ALONG THE FORESHORE OF THE RIVER THAMES, THE ACTIVITY IS AS MUCH ABOUT IMAGINATION AS IT HISTORY. EACH OBJECT FOUND CAN PROMPT IDEAS AND VISIONS OF IT'S PAST LIVES; WHO WERE IT'S PREVIOUS OWNERS? HOW WAS IT USED? WHY HAS IT COME TO RESIDE ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER?
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MUDLARK IMAGINARIES AIMS TO COMMUNICATE SUCH EXPERIENCES WHICH UNFOLD UPON FINDING OBJECTS. THE INFORMATION PRESENTED ON THE SITE WAS GATHERED FROM THE FACEBOOK GROUP 'THAMES FORESHORE FINDS' AND THROUGH PHONE CALL INTERVIEWS WITH DIFFERENT MUDLARKS. THE PAGES NOT ONLY COMMUNICATE INDIVIDUAL IMAGINATIONS BUT THE CONTRASTS AND INTERSECTIONS OF MULTIPLE IMAGINATIONS WHICH CAN BE OBSERVED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AS FANATICS DEBATE OVER THE TRUE ORIGINS OF DIFFERENT OBJECTS.
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AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE THERE IS A FORM WHERE MUDLARKS CAN SUBMIT THEIR OWN IMAGINATIONS ON THE OBJECTS FEATURED ON THE SITE, OR PERSONAL FINDS WITH ACCOMPANYING STORIES WHICH IN THE FUTURE MAY BE ADDED TO THE WEBSITE WITH THE AIM OF MAKING THE SPACE MORE COLLABORATIVE.
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THE ONLINE MUDLARKING COMMUNITY IS VAST WITH FACEBOOK GROUPS WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS AND MUDLARK INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS RACKING FOLLOWINGS OF UP TO 80K. INITIALLY, I SET OUT TO INVESTIGATE CONNECTIVITY WITHIN THESE MUDALRKING NETWORKS; EXPLORING HOW A PREDOMINANTLY SOLITARY ACTIVITY COULD HAVE SUCH AN ABUNDANT SOCIAL COMMUNITY. MY INVESTIGATIONS ONLINE AND INTERVIEWING 7 MUDLARKS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND GENDERS, LEAD ME TO PRODUCE A FILM ON THE RISING POPULARITY OF THE HOBBY AND THE EMERGING ANXIETIES AND HIERARCHIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ACCOMPANYING THIS. THE RESEARCH I CONDUCTED FOR THE FILM LEAD TO THE CREATION OF THIS WEBSITE.
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