Beating the Bounds

Beating the Bounds is an ongoing project taking its name from the ancient custom of walking the boundaries of an area such as a local parish, and beating landmarks and markers with birch or willow boughs to preserve community knowledge of their geographical extents. On some occasions, accompanying youths were also beaten to more firmly imprint the knowledge of place.

The photos record imprints of drainage covers and metal signange in the city on my hands, connecting me to the tactile surfaces otherwise ignored and markers of hidden infrastructure beneath the streets. The pause, shift in perspective, and discomfort of the act of ‘taking the imprint’ is a quiet, performative exploration of these hidden routes.