21 May: Dowr Tamar / Great Water – a short film about the River Tamar @ 1500

Join an exclusive screening of Samuel Bestwick’s ‘Dowr Tamar / Great Water,’ a short film that uses archive footage to explore the evolution of the Tamar through time, diving deep into the river’s landscape.

Samuel Bestwick is an artist and filmmaker currently based in Cornwall. Primarily employing the use of moving image, his practice explores narrative in conjunction with place and social history, often recontextualising these ideas within a modern context. Created for Bridge the Tamar, a group exhibition hosted by MIRROR at Arts University Plymouth and curated by Hannah Rose and Elaine Sinclair, Dowr Tamar / Great Water’ explores the evolution of the Tamar river’s landscape through time. 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. 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. We are waiting to confirm, but it is likely that Sam will be available to answer questions about his film after the screening.