Justinien Tribillon's Film Explores 'Working on the Sly' in East London for V&A East

Justinien Tribillon has created a new film for V&A East's New Work programme, focusing on the hidden practice of 'working on the sly'—making objects for oneself at work using workplace tools and materials. The film examines manual skill, working-class culture, and resourcefulness in East London's workshops and industrial spaces. Tribillon, a writer, educator, and editor with a PhD in urban studies from University College London, collaborated with researcher George Kafka and filmmaker Alice Doušová. The project involved knocking on doors of industrial estates to find participants, filming workers' hands to capture differences in rhythm and pace between paid work and personal making. Tribillon notes that while the practice is common in French working-class culture, it is more discreet in the UK. He aims to continue collecting stories and objects to preserve this heritage before it disappears. The film is part of a broader effort to reconnect audiences with manual creativity and the history of manufacturing.