Andrea Aguilera, Mhairi Brown, Kyle Leeson, Dana Leslie, Josephine O’Connor & Jasmin Robertson 2023

map of all the Riu d’art artworks

‘Fluir amb l’aigua segura’

‘To go with safe water’

One of the artists who worked on this collaborative mural, Jasmin Robertson, explains the inspiration behind the artwork:

‘To go with safe water’ was a project I created back home, around the River Clyde, in Glasgow. It started when I found a Farsi prayer written and neatly folded with water passing through the river, and evolved into a project about appreciating our river sources, valuing their presence and significance, practically and spiritually. When first arriving in Riba-roja it was clear that the people and place take pride and care of the River Ebro river, which was beautiful for me, and of course was great inspiration to all of us in our mural. I soon heard about Santa Madrona, the Catholic Saint who cared for sailors and passersby on the river, and its presence in local storytelling, especially to do with travel and passage. I felt privileged and gained a lot of inspiration whilst swimming in the Ebro and travelling both upstream above the dam and further downstream. 

When I’m at a waterway or river I always like to think about what is downstream of m in a physical sense and also metaphorically because if we think about what is downstream, it is what is to come; the villages, the people, wildlife, the oceans and time. The generations, the experiences that are the future. It’s nice to think that we all have been lucky enough to end up here in Riba-roja Right now, learning about your culture and environment and working together to create art, which I would like to thank you for.’

‘And now I’d like to read that Farsi prayer to share with you some of the connections we have made with religion, culture, place and people;’

‘In the name of the universe and life And clear waters, angels, health and hope. Thanking the positive energy. I’m grateful for the angel of health and care guarding my mother.
I’m asking her to keep a good eye on my mother so she gets cured physically and mentally. Please help my mother to have her complete health back. Please help her so she get back on her feet again and have her normal joyful life back. I really appreciate your help. I know you always have mercy on us. Please help my mother to have her full and complete health back.’