Navigators

Pinhole image, wood, plaster & rope.

(2022- Present)

My journey into research was sparked by my passion for prehistory and my partner's fascination with ancient timekeeping methods involving the sun.  I watched with intrigue as he delved into the mysteries of henges, shadow sticks, and sundials. Naturally, I supported his endeavors—providing tools, materials, and even lending a hand. Together, we constructed an impressive wooden henge on a hill in Wimbledon Common. To our surprise and delight, the local rangers appreciated our creation and decided to preserve it. To make a long story short, his use of the sun for timekeeping made me wonder: what other celestial objects have been used to measure time? Was it only objects in the sky, or were land-based features also incorporated? If so, what were they? 

At the time, I was engrossed in a fascinating book by Tristan Gooley titled "How to Read Water." The book led me onto the Polynesian seafarers. A group of incredibly skilled navigators who possessed an intimate knowledge of the stars, oceans and weather patterns to navigate vast distances. They viewed the land, sea, sky and forces of nature as a huge map. This is where my exploration rocketed. I asked the question 'how did the Polynesians record their data for navigation?

I began with creating a pinhole camera made of a monster can and a sheet of light sensitive paper which I situated south facing for a period of 6 months. I wanted to track and record the movement of the sun simultaneously to create a visual map. I was hopeful to say the least that I would gather much data on the paper at all. However, the resulting image was a gem! I could identify midday points and where the sun reaches its highest position in the day. This data could also be read to identify cardinal points in the sky without the use of a compass. Some would say 'well you can just look to the sun in the sky to see where south is.' However, this experiment began in the winter month of November when clouds blanket the sky making it difficult to use the suns rays to navigate oneself. Furthermore I could analyse the shifting points of the suns zenith over a greater period of time.  

The Polynesians also utilised surface patterns on water, observing and identifying key changes in currents and swells to determine their location. I found a piece of discarded wood and re-identified it to a ripple like form akin to a gentle breeze on the surface of water caused by the wind and other surrounding features. I continued to create a response to the notion of utilising weather patterns for navigation. I began with shaping wire to form a sporadic shape mimicking the peak of a wave in a storm driven sea, giving the sense of it tumbling over itself but emerging grounding. This is acts to convey the ingenious mastery of the double hulled canoe by the Polynesians.

Lastly, my research led me to the Polynesians renowned stick charts. Made of natural fibres, wood & shells common throughout the pacific to visualise data observed. The shells acted as location markers and the fibres/wood was curved to represent the bending of ocean waves. I decided to use this form of record keeping to archive a series of notable prehistoric sites located in the south of England to create my own 'Rope map'. I used acrylic rope to place the fibres in a modern context and knotted points to indicate locations. In British history I understand indigenous people found the flight of birds sacred and observed their movements to track seasons. This notion led me to the saying 'as the crow flies.' So rather than curving my rope to connect locations as the Polynesians did I created taught straight lines. 

To summarise the project would be difficult to a degree. I am still immensely interested in the history of the Polynesian people and I created this body of work responding to what I found fascinating about their culture. However I am more interested in how we can use nature to observe and navigate ourselves today. How are we wayfinders already? If we look at what surrounds us, what other data can we collect? How can I further visualise the symbiotic relationship between all life on earth? 

I recently found a badger track which I will be following discreetly to further explore wayfinding and materials.