Uncanny Waters a costume projectby Lu Firth & Ray Malone 
“Everyone looks sexy in waders.”
Uncanny Waters is an intergenerational project led by collabortive artists Lu Firth & Ray Malone, bringing together 13 uncanny participants aged under 30 and over 50 to explore the intersections of water, migration, and queer heritage through costume-making.
Through a series of workshops running from November 2024 to April 2025, our uncanny queers are delving into the symbolism of water as a site of transformation, resistance, and connection. From mythical figures like the Deptford Necker and queer pirates to personal stories of migration and border-crossing, the project unearths the eerie undercurrents of history and folklore that shape our identities and connect us to place and time.
Workshops include hands-on costume design and creation, as well as explorations of queer heritage, storytelling, and historical research. Participants also engage in river based activities that connect their creative work to London’s rivers and currents.
Beginning Uncanny Waters
I feel like instantly we went really deep and I wasn't expecting to but I am glad we did!
— Participants Anonymous Feedback
“I just really loved our discussions, I love being presented with an idea or question and going away in groups to discuss things together. It feels like it has been a long time since I have done something like this and I forgot how happy it makes me..”
— Participants Anonymous Feedback
The highlight of the first session was… “Meeting the other participants and feeling the palpable creative energy and excitement.”
—Participants Anonymous Feedback
the story we have inherited that we wrote about - it brought back something a very central but totally forgotten about memory and has since become the basis of the costume I'd like to play with
— Participants Anonymous Feedback
“I hope to connect meaningfully to my queer community, that I have sometimes struggled to understand or feel welcome in and has often felt ascribed to me more from people outside of it than in.
— Participants Anonymous Feedback
Deptford Creekside
Exploring Deptford Creekside during Storm Bert
The Uncanny Waters trip to Deptford Creekside was a muddy treasure hunt through London’s history. A mud-filled romp featuring sexy green waders, treasure hunting, and walking trees.
Decked out like fashion-forward swamp adventurers, we waded through the muck to uncover Staffordshire Slipware pottery shards, a river bed full of old clothes, and a discarded can of sardines. The walking tree attempted to join our group, but we told her to stay put and that we’d come back to see her in the Spring!
Deptford Creekside Discovery Centre 24th November 2024
