Over a period of perhaps 20 minutes, I slowly moved through the new and surprisingly sticky mud of the shallows out into the deeper waters of the filling reservoir. As I proceeded into these cold uncertain depths, a series of photographs was taken until the camera lens disappeared completely under the surface of this juvenile and virgin lake. At this point, I was well free from the secure touch of the old land that had only hours ago surrendered to become the new lake floor, and there I drifted, betrayed by this false vestal of tranquil water, controlled by powers beyond itself.

Performance to mark the first filling of hydro lake Dunstan, Clyde, New Zealand - Lloyd Godman Lake Fill I - May 1992