Redd verb
:(Scottish, Irish): put something in order; tidy-usually used with up or out;
Redd noun
:a hollow or spawning ground of various fishes.
Redd by Paul Carroll explores how communities within Ireland interact with a selection of the 84800km of waterways contained in the 3192 inland water bodies.
The summer of 2018 saw persistent high temperatures, prolonged periods without rainfall and water restrictions for the first time in decades throughout Ireland. These conditions led to record-low water levels, unveiling hidden components within the water environment.
Carroll utilises vantage points along canals and rivers to peer directly into waterways. Seasonal water levels and the incidence of natural light upon water are also used as he captures communities oft-times adverse interaction within fluvial environs
Redd unveils a transient tapestry of artefacts which echo the joy and struggle of everyday life. Focusing on mundane objects found in both urban and rural waterways, the series serves as a poignant reflection of the diverse socioeconomic makeup of throwaway culture prevalent in our globalised society.
Statistics from Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) underscore the urgency of Carroll’s exploration, revealing a decline in Irish pristine rivers from 500 in 1980 to 20 in 2019. The report identifies agriculture, alterations to water bodies, wastewater discharges, and forestry as primary contributors to this concerning trend.
The transient essence of Redd traces back to a poignant chapter in Carroll’s personal history. During his childhood a river bank gave way while he was fishing, nearly resulting in his drowning. As he struggled to push himself off the river bed to safety, the image of his fishing rod floating beside him, encircled by the earth of the bank, etched itself into his memory with indelible permanence. This event, intertwined with his subsequent investigations of Buddhist philosophy, infuses the series with a profound interplay of beauty and melancholy.
Redd was nominated for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) 2024.