‘Practices of belonging, practices of place’ – Professor Esther Johnson to speak and present ‘Alone Together’ at Goldsmiths conference

Professor Esther Johnson has been invited to present at Practices of belonging, practices of place: Conversations in film & research, an afternoon workshop aimed at those interested in video and film methods at Goldsmiths. It will bring together three teams of researchers and film-makers to discuss the process of collaboration and the potential of using film in social research and marks the final stage of the ESRC-funded project The Choreography of Everyday Multiculture: bowling together?. As part of the conference there will be a website launch and screening of the film Bowling Together: Portrait of a League by Andy Lee and Emma Jackson. Esther Johnson’s Alone Together, the Social Life of Benches will also be screened.

Practices of belonging, practices of place: Conversations in film & research
Wednesday 08 November 2017
12.30 PM – 8.00 PM
Goldsmiths, London
SE14 6NW
Attendance is free, registration via Eventbrite.

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 emotional and 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 break the ice by starting a conversation with their fellow bench user.

Esther Johnson works at the intersection of artist moving image and documentary. Her poetic portraits focus on marginal worlds, revealing resonant stories that may otherwise remain hidden or ignored. Work has been exhibited internationally in 40 countries, and has also featured on television and radio. In 2012 Johnson won the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Performing and Visual Arts for young scholars. She is a Professor of Film & Media Art at Sheffield Hallam University. Find out more about Esther’s work here.