Exhibition puts sporting communities in focus
A photographic exhibition celebrating local sporting communities has opened at multiple venues across Birmingham and Sandwell, as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.
People, Place and Sport by award-winning artist, Jaskirt Boora (pictured), in collaboration with community arts organisation Multistory, will shine a light on 25 individuals and hubs where grassroots sport take place.
People, Place and Sport is a collection of photographic portraits and recorded conversations with individuals who take part in everyday sports across the West Midlands.
From this week until 31 August the portraits will be on display in eight leisure centres and outdoor spaces across the West Midlands region - including Bournville Green, Birmingham Coach Station, Moseley Road Baths, St Pauls Square in the Jewellery Quarter, Haden Hill Leisure Centre, Hadley Stadium, Wednesbury Leisure Centre and West Bromwich Leisure Centre.
Coinciding with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games the full exhibition will also be outdoors at Sandwell Valley Park from 4 July to 31 August.
Individuals featured in the exhibition include Amelia, a young Thai Boxer at Fearless MMA Wrestlers in Balsall Heath; Julius, first team captain at Aston Old Edwardians Rugby Football Club; and retiree Jean, a member of Bournville Bowls Club for 25 years.
Accompanying their portraits are recorded conversations about what sport and the Commonwealth means to each of them.
Jaskirt Boora is an award-winning visual artist whose work focuses on a socially engaged practice, working with local communities in the West Midlands.
She is interested in celebrating untold stories while exploring visual representations of gender, ethnicity and place.
She said: “In People, Place and Sport I wanted to shine a light on the sporting hubs tucked away in our landscape, away from the large stadia, where grassroots sport takes place on a weekly basis.
“All the individuals I met are dedicated to their sport be it as a captain, coach or hobby. Collectively they are representative of the people of the region, and I can 't wait to share their portraits and stories. ”