DOWR TAMAr / GREAT WATER
SAMUEL BESTWICK
13 - 28 JAN 2023
GRAYS WHARF GALLERY
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
A new film by Samuel Bestwick, ‘Dowr Tamar / Great Water’ explores the evolution of the Tamar river’s landscape through time. Originating at Woolley Moor and ending at the Plymouth Sound, the Tamar river travels over 60 miles with 22 bridges built to cross it.
The Tamar river, said to mean 'Great water' in Cornish, divides Cornwall and Devon. Samuel Bestwick has travelled the length of the Tamar to create a new film work rooted in local heritage and environmentalism. With a musical score composed by The Worm, the film catalogues humanity’s technological progression, commercial expansion and environmental exploitation through the 22 bridges that cross the river. Bestwick’s chronological use of 8mm, 16mm and digital recording mirrors the technological progression of the bridges themselves.
Starting as humble footbridges hidden amongst greenery, the widening river soon features concrete constructions capable of carrying vehicles. From here the bridges become metal. Humanity’s influence continues to become more apparent, small settlements make way for hamlets, hamlets become villages, villages become towns. Eventually, the river reaches the industrial revolution’s Royal Albert bridge and 20th century’s subsequent Tamar bridge, before finally opening up to the mass of water beyond.
Archive footage provided by The SWFTA Collection @ The Box, Plymouth
Musical score composed by The Worm
Bestwick says:
“On a macro level I believe parallels can be drawn from this physical display of England’s progressive handling of its environment, to that of mankind’s collective direction: exploiting the landscape according to our ever-demanding needs. Just like the uncertainty of the ocean beyond, our collective future is also uncertain.”
Bestwick’s methods of capturing the subject, both in technique and medium, echo that of mankind’s progression through technology. The first part of the journey incorporates 8mm film, static shots, a slow edit and diegetic sound, creating a feeling of calm. As advancement through industry becomes more apparent the work transitions to 16mm, with simple camera movements being introduced and a score coming to the forefront. This continuation of medium continues as the river does, eventually transitioning into a digital format, the camera more dynamic, the edit faster, the score a faster tempo; all creating an increase in tension.
Though the film is based in the South-West of England, its basis in environmentalism makes it applicable to all, now more than ever. The film is set along the border of Cornwall and Devon and depicts the local landscape, history, people and communities, but it is also about our collective relationship to our environment, the impact our activities have and how we are fundamentally changing the climate.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Samuel Bestwick is an early-career artist and filmmaker based in Cornwall. Primarily employing the use of moving image, his practice explores narrative in conjunction with place and social history, re-contextualising these ideas within a modern context. His work is often concerned with the act of looking and by extension, philosophies surrounding the camera itself.
www.samuelbestwick.com
@samuel__bestwick
images:
Installation shots
Film stills from ‘Dowr Tamar / Great Water’
(all images courtesy of the artist)
Musical score composed by The Worm
Archive footage provided by The SWFTA Collection @ The Box, Plymouth
This exhibition is part of a new programme supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
