This, of course, is all speculation, 2022, (video still)
THIS, OF COURSE, IS ALL SPECULATION
Blurring sounds and stories from past and present-day Darlington, This, of course, is all speculation is a 20 minute film exploring the lives of Thomas Wood a 19th century gilder, framer and gallerist from Darlington, and his son Sydney H. Wood a photographer.
Constructed from text extracted from newspaper articles of the time, spoken and written memories, descriptions of artwork and photography linked to the Wood family, and sound recordings taken in the vicinity of the various sites of Thomas and Sydney Wood's shops,
the piece explores the limitations and fallibility of historical storytelling and the assumptions we are forced to make when researching family histories.
The project came about as the result of a Dover Prize 2021 Creative Award from County Durham Community Foundation and Creative Darlington. The work was available via QR code at The Head of Steam Museum and Centre for Local Studies during 2022. It can be viewed online here.
