Vertical Horizons: In the Shadow of the Shard

'In a city I have lived in for 30 years a transformation is occurring. It is at once obvious, in its massive demolition and construction, yet beyond my experience and understanding. It is all too easy to simply identify this change with a new sublime of global capital. Vertical Horizons tries to expand how the Shard, as an event, is grounded in the complexity of the city, our experience and lives within it'.

Vertical Horizons (2017, 75 mins) is a meditative film about Western Europe's tallest building. Artist filmmaker Tom Wolseley juxtaposes views of the Shard from different vantage points around South London with contrasting narratives about the building and his own response to living in its shadow.

Does 'showing that London is open for business' produce these iconic buildings that are less products of capital than conservative political ideologies? In turn are these architectural projections of an imagined future predicated on nostalgic national and personal modes of identification?

The film asks questions about the relationship between the individual and the larger global dynamics that are manifesting themselves in the changing landscapes of major cities such as London.

The film will be screened at the OXO Bargehouse, on the southbank of the Thames, as part of the programme for the Architecture Film Festival London.

There will be a Q&A with Director Tom Wolseley, and his research material relating to the production of the film whilst in residency at UCL Urban Laboratory will also be on display.

No booking neccessary, please just turn up.

Further links:

• Urban Lab Films present Oslo, August 31st (8 June)