About this Event
The residents of A House for Artists invite you to join us as we gather for Artist Housing: a selection of works that resonate with this building, this project; its future and its context in Barking and London. The works document communities and their experiences of making, losing and fighting for what houses their lives and livelihood.
This event comes as we mark 2 years since moving in to A House for Artists. Whilst preparing for the screening we received a notice of a rent increase, prompting us to reflect on questions faced by many social and private renters across the country: how do we address the ways that austerity and the rising cost of living affect us and our direct community? How do we find and create solidarity with each other whilst responding and reflecting on our experience as residents here? And what is the role or potential of artists within a broader resident community?
The films will be followed by a conversation with Jonathan Orlek (Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Liverpool School of Art and Design; Director, Studio Polpo). Orlek's research interests include artist-led organisations and spaces, critical spatial practice, housing, and collective urban practices; and his edited book, Artist-Led Housing: Histories, Residencies, Spaces (2024) explores the role of artist-led organisations within the provision of housing.
Through conversation with some of A House for Artists' tenants, Orlek will help us consider questions around schemes of housing and the responsibilities of councils, housing providers and developers to their communities. How are communities built, nurtured and maintained and what are the ensuing forces that “make them or break them”?
Join us for:
Blight | John Smith 1996, HD video from 16mm, colour, sound, 14min
Blight was made in collaboration with the composer Jocelyn Pook. It revolves around the building of the M11 Link Road in East London, which provoked a long and bitter campaign by local residents to protect their homes from demolition. The images in the film record some of the changes which occurred in the area over a two-year period, from the demolition of houses through to the start of motorway building work.
Unearthing Elephant | Eva Sajovic, Rebecca Davies and Sarah Butler 2017, HD Video, colour, sound, 23min
A film about Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, which sits at the heart of the rapidly changing urban fabric of Elephant and Castle.
Nubia Way | Timi Akindele-Ajani 2023, super8, HD and archive video, colour, sound, 21min
Nubia Way was built in the 1990s by Fusions Jameen, London's first black housing co-operative in Downham, Lewisham. Constructed using the principles of Walter Segal, self-builders were offered long-term discounted rents in return for building the homes. Through interviews with the original self-builders, historians, architects and economists, this documentary from the Architecture Foundation celebrates the legacy of Nubia Way and examines self-building as an act of resistance against the housing discrimination faced by Black British Communities.
ahfa sounds 1 | Martin Osman 2023, stereo sound, 15min
"Since moving into A House for Artists I have been making field recordings of the house. I wanted to use the acoustics of the exhibition space while it was empty and was fortunate enough to have local artist/singer Sarina Leah, who sang acapella in different parts of the space whilst I recorded from near far actively and non-actively, also Leanne Mason, who is a local yoga teacher and sound healer, brought her sound bowls and chimes, and ran through their different tones and frequencies." (Martin Osman)
Programmed by Abel Holsborough and Maria Anastassiou
With funding and support from Cinema for All and Film London
Image: still from Blight.
Please note that young people under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you have any access needs, please let us know on [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Living Room, A House for Artists, 36 Linton Road, Barking, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
