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The Cinema of Peter Hutton + introduction by Daniel Owusu (15*)

Experiments in Film

,Cinema 3
Cinema of Peter Hutton

Step into the contemplative world of acclaimed experimental filmmaker Peter Hutton with a rare screening of three of his most poetic works: Landscape (for Manon), Study of a River, and Time and Tide.

Traveller, sea merchant and avid sailor, Peter Hutton made silent films grounded in the fleeting movement of rivers, clouds, mist, smoke and sunlight, inspired by the river painters from the Hudson river school (1829–1908). 

Hutton crystalizes the movement of atmospheric conditions with fading in-and-out still shots, somewhat like the opening and closing of a jewellery box.

The evening aims to explore the movement in weather conditions which Hutton frames in the river portraits, against a brief and unrecognized history of ornament that constantly finds itself in dialogue with weather and atmospheric conditions. 

The programme presents three silent film portraits and record of the Hudson river (1987 – 2000), alongside Hata (2025) by Daniel Owusu, a project and film cycle which consists of surveys and studies within meteorological work.  

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With thanks to Daniel Owusu, Canyon Cinema, not-nowhere, Geosphere Austria, Phonogrammarchiv and Sonnblick observatory.

 

Daniel Owusu’s work as an artist and researcher consists mainly of moving images, drawing and installations. His work investigates how rituals and gestures can be a form of memorialisation, and forgetting. Also central to his practice is the work of interpreting the evolution and manipulation of material culture over time.

Ticket prices

Standard
£14 *
* Excludes £1.50 booking fee

Booking fees

£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.

No fee when tickets are booked in person.

Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.

Peter Hutton

Peter Hutton (1944 - 2016) was an an experimental American filmmaker, who created silent, cinematic portraits of cities and landscapes around the world. Alongside his experimental practive, Hutton worked as a cinematographer, and worked frequently with American documentarian Ken Burns. 

Filmed on 16mm and presented in silence, these meditative studies of light, time, and place transform everyday environments into quietly powerful visual experiences. From intimate portraits of natural landscapes to global maritime scenes, Hutton's films invite viewers to slow down and see the world anew.

Programme

Landscape (for Manon) (1987, 16mm, silent, 12 minutes)

A meditative visual poem, Landscape (for Manon) captures fleeting moments of light and shadow across natural and built environments. Dedicated to Hutton’s daughter, the film evokes a sense of intimacy and quiet wonder, using static black-and-white compositions that emphasize the timeless beauty of the landscape and the ephemeral nature of perception.

 

Study of a River (1997, 16mm, silent, 16 minutes)

In this contemplative work, Hutton turns his lens to the Hudson River, offering a serene yet powerful portrait of the waterway over time. Filmed across seasons, the river becomes both subject and metaphor—its slow, rhythmic movements reflecting the passage of time. The film is a study in patience, light, and the subtle choreography of nature.

 

Time and Tide (2000, 16mm, silent, 35 minutes)

Spanning maritime landscapes from the industrial harbours of New York to the ancient shipyards of Southeast Asia, Time and Tide reflects on global labour, trade, and the ocean as both pathway and barrier. With a masterful sense of framing and tempo, Hutton documents the intersection of natural forces and human enterprise, revealing beauty in the overlooked details of the working waterfront.

Cinema 3

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.