Voices from the Wasteocene – chapter 1 – The Mudlark

The river Thames has always been the city’s dumping ground.

From historic waste – like disposable clay pipes, the equivalent of modern cigarette butts – to modern junk – mobile phones, shopping trolleys, and plastic toys – mudlark Lara Maiklem finds all kind of waste that ends up in the river.

What unites this diversity of waste is the action of the mudlarker-looking where society does not normally look and finding meaning and experience amongst society’s detritus.

What does this detritus tell us about the changing nature of our society?

*Based on the film "London Mudlarking: Lara Maiklem - A short film about Mudlarking" by Kit Harwood.

Director: Kit Hardwood | D.O.P.: Miles Williams | Dubbing Mixer: Guy Chase | Composer: Josh Harvey