Previously Unseen
‘Previously Unseen’ was a collaborative project between me as a photographer and Ellie Cooper as choreographer. The aim of the project was to show Spelthorne’s elite gymnasts as they are not usually seen and to understand how the two art forms could inform and reflect one another, to take the relationship beyond photographic documentation.
The project was carried out in two phases.
The first phase of the project, reminiscent of Johan Persson’s work with The Royal Ballet, resulting in the black and white images seen above took an observational documentary approach to capture the hard work, talent, and teamwork that goes into the crafting and rehearsal of new routines. The photographs selected for exhibition deliberately omitted the crescendo moments of an acrobatic routine: the throws and balances, in favour of images that capture the creation of the moments between the big moves. They capture the strength, camaraderie and care shown between the members of the team as they train.
The second phase of the project inspired by Ken Browar and Deborah Try’s ‘Art of Movement’ series, and resulting in the colour images displayed below, sought to remove the imbalance of power between the photographer and the subjects that is typical of much documentary photography, by handing control of the photographic apparatus to the gymnasts and choreographer using a similar method borrowed from portrait photographer Anthony Luvera.
Using studio lighting set in front of the rehearsal mirrors the images are collaboratively crafted ‘sculptures’, signature poses and short form dances lasting just a fraction of a second. Dressed in their own choice of clothing, with hair down the gymnasts are freed from the conformity of typical performance attire, the gymnasts appear more as themselves: Differing clothing a demonstration of their individualism, matching outfits a signifier of self-initiated collaboration between the gymnasts themselves eager to be seen as a team.
This body of work was first exhibited in Spelthorne Gymnastics’ gym in the lobby of their Christmas displays.
Attendees were able to view the exhibition and see the see moments that led to the creation of the performances they were about to see as viewed from the middle of the performance floor.
Audiences were invited to return to the exhibition after the show in order to better relate these fragments of rehearsal to the finished performances.
The work that goes into designing, crafting and perfecting acrobatic routines usually takes place behind closed doors. When the performers emerge in matching costumes to show the result of their work, their individual personalities, their struggles and the teams that support them in their strive for perfection usually go unnoticed.
This project served to show some of that hard work but only became truely collaborative when the gymnasts were given control of how they looked and when the image was taken. The lines of authorship are therefore blurred but the result is a more authentic representation of who the gymnasts really are.