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Figuring Bodies of Water (PG)

Outdoor Cinema

A still from Cold Rights

Dive into a curated selection of films exploring our relationship to water through contemporary artists and filmmakers, including Susan Schuppli, Anne Duk Hee Jordan, Tabita Rezaire and more.

Water is the element that, more than any other, ties human beings to the world around them – from the oceans that surround us, to the water that makes up most of our bodies. Exploring the cultural and philosophical implications of this, Figuring Bodies of Water considers the connection between our watery world and the (post)human body.

Through film, the evening takes a look at ideas around queer ecologies, investigating how hermaphroditic, transgender, and gender-swapping aquatic life constantly shift sexual gears to adapt to human environmental irresponsibility; the ‘right to be cold’ in a world of disappearing sea ice; and the power of water as a conductive interface for communication.

This screening has been locally classified

Programme

Acera and the Witches’ Dance
1972 dir Jean Painlevé 13 min

Cold Rights
2022 dir Susan Schuppli 11 min 40 sec

Common Heritage
2019 dir Emma Critchley, 24 min 57 sec

Deep Down Tidal
2018 dir Tabita Rezaire, 18 min 40 sec

Ziggy and the Starfish
2016 dir Anne Duk Hee Jordan, 16 min 28 sec

Food

We’ve got brilliant fresh food especially available for the Outdoor Cinema from Copper Rattle, Toum & Tahini and Kichiya Pastries (photos in the image gallery above)

Copper Rattle bring their delicious gourmet hot dogs, in meat and vegan options, topped with mayo, mustard and/or ketchup and finished with crispy onions. Plus, there’ll be hot and salty freshly-popped popcorn

Toum & Tahini have two tasty versions of their fatteh – 8-hour stewed chicken, or Syrian ‘Sofra’ chickpeas, served with chopped bread, garlic tahini yoghurt, olive oil and pine nuts, alongside Moutabal, a smoked aubergine dip

Kichiya Pastries offer the perfect Japanese desserts, with Dorayaki Matcha Ice cream, Dorayaki and Azuki cream, Soufflé Cheese-cake, Yuzu Carrot Cake, Sesame Sable, Matcha Shortbread, and scoops of ice cream

See more film for less

Get 20% off tickets and pay no booking fees. Plus, enjoy priority booking and £6 Members’ Screenings of the latest films every Sunday (T&Cs apply)

Event information

Information might change closer to the events taking place, so it’s worth double checking nearer the time, and we’ll be in touch with the most important information before your screening. 

Coming to the screening 
It’s first come, first served with seating – you can claim your seats up to an hour before the screening. Seat pads are available, although you're welcome to bring your own if you prefer to, or to be extra comfy.
 
You’ll be given a pair of headphones to listen to the film through; there won’t be any speakers outside. You’ll collect these on arrival and hand them in on the way back. 

We can’t provide blankets, but we advise you to bring one along, as well as a jacket or coat and anything else you’d like to have with you after sundown, as it’ll get chilly.
 
Please don’t bring large bags or lots of stuff with you, as there’s no cloakroom available.
 
Come in up to 15 minutes after the advertised start time. Staff members are there to help you find an available seat. If you arrive late, you’ll be missing the film – we’re punctual!

You’re free to take pictures of the screening area until the film begins, but after that, please don’t take photo or video once the film has started - the same piracy rules apply as they would for an indoor cinema. Also, please respect the privacy of our residents and your fellow audience members. 

Food and drink
Food and drink is available to purchase on site. Only drink purchased on site can be consumed at the Outdoor Cinema. Glass bottles aren’t allowed for the safety of you and fellow audience members.

Access
Outdoor Cinema is wheelchair accessible: there is a ramp leading to the screening area. Please let us know in advance if you need assistance by emailing us at [email protected].
Assistance dogs are welcomed (but no pets, sorry!)

If there’s rain 
We’re at the mercy of the British summer. If the forecast looks like rain, we recommend you bring waterproof clothing. We’d ask you not to bring umbrellas though, so the person behind can still enjoy the film. 
We’ll cancel and refund if the weather is deemed to be extreme or unsafe. If that happens, you’ll receive an email from us. 

Finding the Sculpture Court
Just arrive through our main entrance and the Sculpture Court is up on level 3, just outside the Art Gallery. If you’re unfamiliar with our venue, don’t worry – we’ll provide directions on how to get here nearer the time. 

Finally, we’d ask you to remember that the Outdoor Cinema is in a residential area, so we’d kindly ask you to be as quiet as possible when you’re leaving.

Sculpture Court