UnEarthing Elephant

UnEarthing Elephant, winner of the prestigious Research in Film Award by AHRC, (made in collaboration with artist Rebecca Davies and writer Sarah Butler, edited by Shona Hamilton) aims to document, celebrate and advocate for the unique space that is Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre.

Written and filmed throughout 2014-2017, the film weaves the imagined voice of the Shopping Centre itself together with the voices and opinions of traders, customers, local residents and academics. Although many people say the centre was a failure from the day it opened, it has nonetheless fostered many small immigrant businesses as well as a genuine sense of community. The film offers a timely and important insight into the everyday realities of a much loved building and walks the line between art, research and advocacy.

A model of the shopping centre accompanies the film, produced in collaboration with Hester Buck.