Our second project is to take on a role of a “navigator” with a partner and explore London, identify an aspect of the city to further investigate, and create a project relating to our chosen topic.
My partner, Elodie Carrel, and I spent a day exploring different parts of the city we felt contrasted each other in demographic, gentrification, culture and wealth. Utilising buses and tubes, we started in Kensington to Battersea and Brixton. We felt different vibrancies and energies.
The quaint, homogenous-looking parts of Kensington that had a combination of workers renovating and replenishing the residences of the wealthiest and the bystanders walking along, mostly alone and with earphones on.
As we walked towards Battersea we felt a more neighborhood-y yet less developed aura. Outside a nearby corner store, we sat with two elderly men who described the same daily routine of lounging outside of the store, drinking coffee, and saying hi to most people crossing through. We then spoke with a man in a striking lavender suit who worked with an NGO and described the beauty of the area. Despite the less bustling and “pristineness” of the area, I felt the people were much more open and friendly and willing to talk to unfamiliar faces. Everybody was willing to let us film us with good spirit.
As we approached Brixton, we came across an outdoor skate park covered in graffiti. As we tried to film the talented skateboarders, we were given the finger by some while others completely ignored our presence. We went more into town and witnessed a huge array of diverse people, crowding through Brixton Market. We sat in front of a wall, as a way the homeless did, and filmed from above. When we did this in Kensington, not a single person looked our way. When we did it in Brixton, people heckled us and a woman threatened, “you better not film me.” I appreciated the opinionated people unafraid to speak their minds.
We used a film camera that we have yet to develop and also a camcorder to document our experience. A short compilation created by Elo can be found here.
Kensington 
Kensington 
Battersea 
Battersea 
Brixton 
Brixton 
Brixton
Jessica Yang 