More than Human / More than Bristol / Less than Perfect, 2021

HD Video, 13 min

Commissioned by Bristol Doctoral College, University of Bristol, in response to the centenary of Postgraduate research at the university.

Working with a team of PhD researchers from the departments of Physics, History and English Literature, and materials from Special Collections and Archives at UOB, this collaborative project explores three distinct but interwoven themes discovered in the life and work of students in the first twenty years of PhD research at UOB.

From trail-blazing women researchers, international academics, traces of empire and colonialism and innovations in agriculture — the socio-political, academic and civic shadows and legacies of the University’s alumni are very much present today.

Through a series of online workshops and footage shot on location at a number of sites belonging to the University of Bristol, three moving image works were developed. Entitled 'More than human', 'More than Bristol' and ‘Less than Perfect', these films draw together traces and legacies of the university's historic PhD researchers alongside the expectations and experiences of the current and future generation of researchers at the University.

CREDITS:

Commissioned in celebration of '100 years of Postgraduate Research' at the University of Bristol.

Conceived and edited by Bryony Gillard in collaboration with Postgraduate Researchers Surangama Datta, Lena Ferriday, Sophie Osbourne and James Watts

Featuring voiceover and performances by Surangama Datta, Lena Ferriday, Sophie Osbourne and James Watts.

Camera, scoring and sound mix by Oliver Sutherland

Project Team: Robert Bickers, Tim Cole, Surangama Datta, Tasmin Head, Alice Ferns, Lena Ferriday, Sophie Osbourne and James Watts

Filmed at Filwood Farm and the HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Goldney Hall Orchard and Royal Fort Gardens, University of Bristol

Archive photographs courtesy of University of Bristol Library, E.C. Stevens, courtesy of University of Bristol Library, Special Collections and the British Council. Images courtesy of University of Bristol Library, Special Collections, University of Bristol.

With thanks to Karen Anderson, Jamie Carstairs and Hannah Lowery at Special Collections, University of Bristol, Steve Neck and Andrew Hughes, the Bristol Doctoral College and the Brigstow Institute.