New Order, Other Spaces

Perth Concert Hall, August 4-November 22

Artist photographer Jo Longhurst has spent a decade studying elite gymnasts up close.

Acclaimed for her explorations of how notions of perfection shape both people’s identities and political systems, Jo’s latest exhibition forms part of the cultural programme for the inaugural European Sports Championships being co-hosted by Glasgow.

Sparking conversations around gender, gesture and movement, her new commissions reflect time spent with gymnasts in Scotland and Brazil, plus intensive research at Perth’s Fergusson Gallery into pioneering dancer/choreographer Margaret Morris.

“Exhibitions about her usually focus on movement and dance, but I was interested in the way she applied her work to health and fitness by looking at children in TB sanatoriums who’d been shown her methods,” explains Jo, 55.

“I found this really strange old archive photograph of a small child in profile in white in a very similar pose to some of my previous portraits of gymnasts – standing and being assessed in the Margaret Morris movement programme –and it’s complementing a lifesize gymnast.

“Everything is work concerning arrested or slowed down movement that I’ve collaborated with gymnasts on in one way or another.”

Key exhibits include huge wall vinyls and a pair of window banners depicting abstract bodyscans taken by Jo of Brazilian rhythmic gymnasts, and an installation comprising 215 perspex blocks covering 100 years of sports photography.

Moving image pieces are prominent, including visuals that play intermittently on a large screen outside Perth Theatre. “There are three video works and one’s across 22 screens,” says Jo.

“I’ve taken some archive footage from a competition at Kelvin Hall in about 1990 and just isolated one section of a leading gymnast who failed to make a vault. It’s a study of her running and the psychology of her getting ready to go, and to go again, as a slow-motion piece. There’s also video work I made in Canada with an ex-Soviet gold medallist.”

Co-curated by Horsecross Arts’ Iliyana Nedkova, the exhibition’s launch tomorrow includes a special live gymnastics intervention. “I always want to give something to people to look at and think about, whatever their level of interest is,” adds Jo.

“For me it’s about the times we’re living in. The gymnasts have got colourful flags and banners in the performance but, typically, they’re also working away laboriously. They’ve all shown genuine interest throughout and their parents and coaches have also been fantastic putting up with me. The opening will be a one-off opportunity to see these elite Scottish gymnasts.” www.horsecross.co.uk

A study by artist photographer Jo Longhurst conveying the feeling of being suspended in mid-air.