Alone Together (The Social Life of Benches)

Watching the world go by in an exploration of the use of public spaces.

London-based artist and director Esther Johnson talks about her project Alone Together: The Social Life of Benches:

“The film looks at how individuals and groups use public and liminal spaces. Drawing on a series of oral testimonies and composed portraits, we wanted to illuminate the thoughts and memories of frequent users of two distinctive public London locations. Revolving around the micro-space of the humble bench, the film incorporates contributions from a diverse range of visitors; this part focuses on the Nepali community of Woolwich.

“Contributor testimonies highlight themes such as the psychological feeling of being in a space, the rhythm and flow of visitors to a place, and the importance of free access to communal outdoor space. The film acts like a stranger who joins you to ‘watch the world go by’, and to break the ice by starting a conversation with a fellow bench user.” 

“The film acts like a stranger who joins you to watch the world go by”

Esther Johnson

​The Ghurkha settlement of 2009 gave ex-Gurkhas and their wives or widows the right to live in the UK. Many chose to move to Woolwich, to join the small Nepali community that already lived here on account of military connections with the Woolwich Arsenal. What is it like to be an older migrant, to move in your later years from a village in rural Nepal to Woolwich London? How do you cope when you can’t speak English, your housing is crowded, and you are beyond the age of finding work?

The women talk about finding company and relaxation by sitting outside in Gordon Square. Many come here on a daily basis though the summer months, both men and women gathering in large groups, sharing news, discussing problems, passing the time of day and watching the rolling news or sport on the ‘big telly’. “When I sit at home it’s lonely, there are worries I think of”. A park is a new kind of social space for them, “there are no such places in Nepal… if there is empty land then people talk about farming there”, but they appreciate the openness, the flowers and trees, and the long benches which allow them to move in and out of conversations of varying group sizes.

Gordon Square is a place that includes rather than excludes. The Nepali elders are not tucked away in a hall or community centre, but a visible and engaged presence within the diverse mix of Woolwich residents. People of all ages and backgrounds hang out here, it’s big enough for small children, teenagers and older people all to take up space without too much bother, but small enough that people make incidental connections. “Some people are nice, they say ‘Morning’ when they pass us. So we say ‘Morning’ as well. If we knew how to speak English, we could be friends with others”.

It’s difficult to make new friends when you don’t have a language in common. But Gordon Square – and similar public spaces in other cities – offers something slightly different: the chance to belong within the urban flow, the chance to enjoy the sunshine, and to fashion your own peaceful place.

Original article from the Bench Project