TIME BASCULE

Commission

In 2019 Tower Bridge commissioned Di to create an artwork that would celebrate its 125th anniversary and “make the bridge sing”.  Funded by the City of London Corporation, Di developed the film whilst working from the bridge’s abutment.

“When I started my commission for the 125th anniversary I became obsessed with the bridge’s ‘bascule’ device which opens and closes using counterweights to allow for tall ships to pass.  I was further enamoured when I discovered the word ‘bascule’ is French for ‘see-saw’.  Halfway through writing the script I realised that bascule had become the metaphor for my story which explored the delicate balance of our own ecosystem through music.”

Film

Time Bascule re-imagines Tower Bridge as a giant musical instrument and draws inspiration from one of the first women to work on the bridge – Hannah Griggs who was a cook for the Bridge Master and his family between 1911-15. The film mixes real elements of Hannah’s life with fantastical imaginings and musical narratives.

Time Bascule explores Hannah’s life in the famous towers via a specially composed musical narrative. Focusing on her love of plants, the dreamlike work sees Hannah researching the connection between music and plant growth. Hannah takes on the role of musical maestro, developing larger and more ambitious tools to help her transform the bridge into a giant musical instrument. As Hannah plays the bridge, its vibrations encourage nature to blossom and bloom, transforming the crossing into an abundant garden. Mixing the real with the imagined, the film explores Hannah’s life and the delicate balance of our ecosystem.

Film Formats

The film is presented in two formats: a short, six-minute version called “Making the Bridge Sing” which was edited specifically for an exhibition inside Tower Bridge’s Engine Rooms from January to April 2020.  The short film can be viewed below.

The second version is a thirty-minute film entitled “Time Bascule” which is currently touring the festival circuit. It has won several awards including ‘Best Experimental Film’ at Montreal Independent Film Festival. Two trailers for the longer film are available below.