"shadow river" is a zine by Los Angeles-based artists Colin Sussingham and Elle Rotstein.

For one month in May 2026, Colin and Elle participated in "COMMONS / OPPES," an artist-in-residence program launched by artist Kazunori Hamana.

During their stay in the Boso area of Chiba Prefecture, they lived immersed in the natural environment and the rhythms of the land, creating works that were closely intertwined with the landscape. The insights gained through their experiences and observations in the area profoundly influenced their creative process, allowing their daily life and artistic practice to unfold as a continuous flow.

This work compiles the pieces, records, and fragments of thought that emerged during this residency. It is a valuable collection that captures the perspectives and creative trajectories nurtured by the unique climate and culture of Boso.

My work explores the physical and spiritual relationship between humans and the natural world. This project began with observations of the flow of a river. Its ever-changing forms, continuous motion, and the power with which it passes through and shapes its environment. I became interested in "flow" not only as a physical phenomenon but as a common phenomenon that exists across bodies, landscapes, emotions, and time.

Since I only had one month to create this body of work, I set constraints for myself to maintain an experimental approach while not losing direction. These were the colors "black, white, and red." Red is a color that evokes blood, veins, vitality, energy, and warmth.

During this residency, I created a diverse range of works, including digital prints, experimental Japanese paper prints, and even inkjet paintings. In their creation, I incorporated an element of serendipity by using water as part of the material.
― Colin Sussingham

Sunflowers grow tall, then dry, wither, and bow their heads. They evoke something vaguely familiar. Humans like flowers, flowers like humans. This represents a spirit where opposites coexist: life and death, weakness and strength, shadow and light.
― Elle Rotstein

56 pages / 210 × 297mm / Offset printing / Printed in Japan / Edition of 100

Colin Sussingham
A photographer born in New York and based in Los Angeles. The origins of his work lie in skateboarding culture and nature. These two elements shape his free and instantaneous shooting style. He continues to capture fleeting movements, expressions, and unique moments that only arise in a given place, with nature, travel, and human figures as his main subjects.

Elle Rotstein
An artist based in Los Angeles. She has a background in fine art, printmaking, and floral design. Her work is strongly influenced by the natural world in both her personal practice and professional endeavors. Primarily using ink and graphite, she symbolically expresses her emotions and physical experiences through floral motifs. She also explores themes such as plant intelligence and the human desire to possess and control nature.