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Award-winning Documentary photographer, Debby Besford joins us to celebrate her touring work, The Art of Roller Skating, showcasing an often-forgotten sport with Debby’s objective and an original eye.
This photography project took 5 years in the making. Debby photographed the journeys of seven young local female artistic roller skaters in Great Yarmouth as they trained and developed their skills; a project which was naturally inspired by her own love for the sport.
Debby grew up in Great Yarmouth in the 1970’s and trained as an artistic roller-skater at the Winter Gardens, travelling all over the country to national skating competitions.
Debby comments, “I wanted to reveal the visual contrast by removing the skaters from the ‘show’ of the rink and instead using the background of a domestic, intimate situation, reminiscent of my own experience – this inspiration evolved where my proud parents took photos of me poised in my skates with trophies clasped in hand in our living room.
Debby has also documented the objects that accompany the life of an artistic roller skater such as roller skates, costumes and trophies and galas, and has produced a series of slow-motion videos showing the detail and intricacy of the movements, the skill, athleticism and emotion it takes to jump in mid-air. These movements are repeated to move towards the perfect jump.
This body of work is a celebration of Great Yarmouth’s skating history with many national champions hailing from Great Yarmouth and a rich cultural heritage. This project has been shown at PRIMEYARC Art Gallery Space, Gt Yarmouth, and Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, London.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Blackfriars rd , NR30 3BX Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom, South East Tower, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3BX, United Kingdom,Great Yarmouth, Yarmouth
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