Alone Together, the Social Life of Benches illuminates the thoughts and memories of frequent users of two public spaces in London: General Gordon Square, Woolwich and St Helier Open Space, Sutton.
Revolving around the micro-space of the humble bench, the experiential capacity of film is used to highlight themes such as the feeling of being in a space, the rhythm and flow of visitors to a place, and the importance of design for everyday street furniture.
The film acts like a stranger who joins you on a bench to ‘watch the world go by’, and to break the ice by starting a conversation with their fellow bench user.
Part of collaborative research The Bench Project that explores how individuals and groups use public space.
Director/Producer: Esther Johnson
Year: 2015
Duration: 00:18:00
Country of Production: UK
Production Format: 2K
Picture: Colour
Sound: Stereo
Supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council
Connected Communities programme