AA HONOURS 2017: NATHAN SU, DIPLOMA 9

19 June 2016 Architectural Association, London We live in a time where cultural ideologies, aspirations and fears are as diverse and dynamic as ever. And yet, our world views are becoming increasingly singular, extreme, and sadly – polarised. Our media echo-chambers feed us personalised, self-affirming realities that keep us well within the boundaries of our own predispositions and assumptions. But what if the technologies that currently blind us, could somehow bind us together? ‘Through Leviathan’s Eyes’ is an optimistic, speculative glimpse into a world where reality is constructed collaboratively. The film is a non-narrative tour through a near-future condition of ‘cityness’ imagining a rewriting of technological priorities; turning the blinding drive for personalised reality into a truly mixed reality. Here, the unstable, ever-shifting, yet somehow intelligent collective compose space in a constant state of re-writing and over-writing, that every so often, coalesces into an urgent, moving obsession. The city renders itself as a tangible, augmented palimpsest. A cultural manifestation of Hobbes’ Leviathan. It was both humbling and exciting to stand amongst such a great diversity of talented designers and powerful projects at these final presentations. To all my tutors these past three years – I am intensely grateful – I could not be who I am without you. To the school and my fellow students – thank you for the exciting collaborations, the occasional commiserations, and the constant inspirations. The greatest honour has been to have shared time and worlds with you all. For more information: