Social Cinema

We collaborated with architects Peter Thomas and Catherine du Toit of 51% studios architecture

The Social Cinema project consists of a series of temporary cinemas, each installed for one night only into the existing urban fabric of the Biennale designated route between Exmouth Market and the Millennium Bridge. Films about, set in, or commenting on London and its architecture were stunningly projected upon the city itself.

At each location, buildings became screens, steps seating, and residents generously gave power, or loaned their houses as projection booths. The architectural fabric of the temporary cinemas was improvisery, playful and subtle; pallets borrowed from an adjacent market made temporary bleachers, plastic crates from local pubs and restaurants became seating, neighbours joined the audience, and volunteers with torches transformed into ushers. Social Cinema turned un-built spaces into auditoria and spectacularly intervened in neglected places around landmark buildings.

The film programme of the Social Cinema traced an evolution in the moving-image representation of everyday life. From the observer and observed of classic documentaries, to contemporary participation in those representations through mobile technologies, by people living and playing in London.

Each program began by introducing ideas and observations on London and its buildings with excerpts from lectures in the Architectural Association Archives; including contributions from the architects Cedric Price, Denys Lasdun, Reyner Banham, and Ron Herron; we then looped back to the 1960’s showing some magnificent films from the Free Cinema movement, of everyday - meaning working class – experience. Free Cinema was followed by a selection of extrordinary amateur films from Straight 8 and these segued into short films previously uploaded onto internet sites where skateboarders, shoppers, and tourists record their interactions with the architecture of the city.

Social Cinema 1
17th June - 9.30 pm
Car Wash Wall opposite the Zetter, St Johns Square, EC1

Excerpts of lectures by

Reyner Banham House Of The Future 1976
Ron Herron Sets Fit For The Queen 1976

Followed by

Claude Goretta & Alain Tanner Nice Time 1957

And the Straight 8 selection of

Chris Vincze Evol 2005
Diego Arrendondo Tequila Chamuco 2005

Followed by

Short films found on-line

Social Cinema 2
23rd June - 9.30 pm
Finsbury Health Centre, Pine Street, EC1

Excerpts of lectures by

Cedric Price Aiming to Miss 1975

Followed by

Leslie Daiken One Potato Two Potato 1957
Daniel Mulloy Antonio’s Breakfast 2006

And the Straight 8 selection of

Dave Waters Harry 2005
Chris Durban & James Owen Class of 2005 2005

Followed by

Short films found on-line

Social Cinema 3
24th June - 9.30 pm
Pauls Walk under the Millennium Bridge EC4

Excerpts of lectures by

Reyner Banham This Is Tomorrow Exhibition 1976
Denys Lasdun National Theatre South Bank 1989
Jacques Herzog Tate Modern 1999

Followed by

John Smith Girl Chewing Gum 1974

And the Straight 8 selection of

Sandalz Deja Vu 2005
Benrt Lutzeler Rapid Eye Love 2005
Darren Walsh Rauhalglauarghuauagh! 2005

Followed by

Short films found on-line

Programme is subject to change, all screenings begin at dusk / 9.30pm

You could visit Architecture Week, or 51% studios architecture

Thanks to Clare Grafik at The Photographers Gallery , and all the volunteers

Generously funded by the Arts Council England and Awards for All

Some of the on-line archives are: YouTube, Vimeo, and Revver.