Author(s): José Roca (Editor); Juan Francisco Salazar (Editor)

Art

rivus - A Glossary of Wateris a substantial and impressively produced companion to the 23rd Biennale of Sydney edited by Biennale curator José Roca and Juan Francisco Salazar.

It is at once an artist book, scholarly reference and beautiful object, printed sustainably on excess paper stock of different types and weight from previous book projects. The design gives the profile of the publication the look and feel of the sediment of the river.

The book is divided into thematic sections in an alphabetical glossary, each referring to works from the Biennale as well as drawing connections to art, history, science, culture and tradition from across time and the world.

As an aquatic artefact, it expresses intended meanings in terms of the nature of the entries it brings to print. While following an alphabetical order, the entries do not only inter-act among themselves as pre established terms that reflect on each other: they intra-act.

Participants featured in rivus and the Biennale include Badger Bates, Casino Wake Up Time, Cave Urban, John Gerrard, Julie Gough, Marguerite Humeau, Bernie Krause, Clare Milledge, Leeroy New, Mike Parr, Tabita Rezaire and Petr Štembera.