Social experiment reveals how Londoners react to model of a homeless person trapped inside a bin bag

A social experiment documenting Londoners’ reactions to a model of a homeless person trapped inside a bin bag has been filmed for a new documentary.

The short film sees the artwork placed in locations across central London, revealing how passers-by react to what appears to be a person inside a rubbish bag.

Left Out was created by British conceptual artist Maxwell Rushton and filmmaker Liam Thomson in the hope of testing public reaction to homelessness.

From the financial district of Bank to commuter-filled Waterloo, the documentary reveals how members of the public react – including taking selfies as well as ripping open the bag to ensure the figure was not a vulnerable person.

Maker Liam Thomson told the Standard: “Homelessness has always been, and continues to be, a problem for the capital.

“However, even more concerning is the increasing number of Londoners who look the other way and pretend it’s not happening.

“We captured their reactions in a six-minute documentary that shines a light on the way the public perceive the homeless and their take on the meanings behind the sculpture.”