~Flow Public Opening
On Sunday 25th March 2012, the River Tyne hosted the striking public launch of ~Flow, a floating tidal-powered artwork created by Owl Project and Ed Carter.
As part of Artists Taking the Lead—a major initiative from the UK Arts Councils for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad—this ambitious structure brought together art, engineering, music, and sustainability. This video montage represents a distinctive example of artist video production, designed to document and reflect the creative pulse of large-scale public art in action.
Positioned just upriver from the Tyne Bridge, ~Flow was both a functioning vessel and a responsive musical instrument. Powered by the tidal energy of the River Tyne, it converted real-time environmental data—like flow speed and salinity—into sound through bespoke wooden machines created by Owl Project. These handmade devices translated river conditions into constantly shifting musical compositions, giving visitors a unique experience of nature interpreted through art and sound.
The launch event offered a full day of public engagement and hands-on participation. Hundreds of visitors explored the floating structure via guided tours, took part in interactive workshops, and met the artists and engineers behind the project. The atmosphere along the Newcastle Quayside was energetic and open, a joyful blend of science fair, performance, and festival.
Documenting Public Art in Action
As a filmmaker, I specialise in artist video production that captures these kinds of shared cultural moments. For me, this wasn’t just about recording an event—it was about sensing its rhythm, observing its details, and preserving its atmosphere. My approach focused on keeping the camera unobtrusive while highlighting the interaction between people, environment, and sound.
This approach is especially important when documenting public art, where the setting, audience engagement, and atmosphere are integral to the artwork’s success. ~Flow wasn’t designed to exist in isolation—it needed people to step aboard, listen, explore, and play. Capturing those real-time responses gives the artwork a second life, enabling it to reach audiences far beyond the banks of the Tyne.
But the most memorable moment of the day came in the evening, with a live, improvised performance by world-renowned saxophonist Andy Sheppard and Mercury Prize-nominated drummer Seb Rochford. Performing from the deck of ~Flow itself, they responded in real time to the evolving sounds generated by the river-powered instruments. The result was an extraordinary, one-off collaboration where human improvisation met environmental feedback.
Witness the Performances
You can experience that live performance in the video above. The interplay between Sheppard’s soulful saxophone and Rochford’s inventive percussion was rich, exploratory, and beautifully restrained—both artists responding not just to each other, but to the ambient tones generated by the river’s flow. Their set made ~Flow come alive as a collaborative instrument, fusing technology, nature, and improvisation into a single, compelling experience.
Capturing this performance on film required responsiveness and restraint. I wanted to convey the emotional subtlety of the music while keeping the focus on the artists’ dialogue with the vessel. This is the core of artist video production: to witness creative process in real time and reflect it faithfully for others.
The ~Flow project was curated and produced by Beth Bate and Tom Higham, who brought together artists, musicians, and communities to develop a bold, interdisciplinary programme. Their vision ensured that ~Flow was not just a static sculpture, but a hub for creative experimentation, dialogue, and exchange.
Why Projects Like This Matter
For me as a documentary filmmaker, ~Flow exemplifies why I do what I do. It’s a perfect blend of art, environment, music, and community—all areas I’m passionate about. Working on projects like this reminds me that filmmaking isn’t just about cameras and edits—it’s about bearing witness to creative encounters and giving them space to resonate long after the moment has passed.
Whether I’m working on research collaborations, artist commissions, or environmental installations, I approach each project with the same mindset: to elevate the voices and experiences that might otherwise be missed. ~Flow is a lasting reminder of how public art can connect people, place, and purpose—and how video can help carry those connections into the future.
🌐 Learn more about the ~Flow project at: www.flowmill.org
🎨 Explore more of my work documenting artists and creative practice here: https://alanfentiman.co.uk/vimeo-videos/artist-films/