Inspirational final year show is hosted by Ocean’s city centre digital screen
Talented Nottingham photography students exchanged their normal end of year show for an outdoor exhibition hosted by Ocean on our large format city centre digital screen above the entrance to Nottingham’s intu Victoria Centre.
The 60 minute show featured 38 photographs taken by 14 Nottingham College Foundation Degree students and replaced their usual final year event which could not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions.
From the sheds of Old Coach Road allotments to the residents of Beeston Marina Mobile Home Park, their photography captures the stories and spirit of Nottingham communities during lockdown.
Nottingham College course leader Matt Bunn said: “For the students to be showing their final projects on the big screen is a fantastic climax to what has been a more than tricky year. It is so generous of Ocean Outdoor to feature the work and to support the students. They have been forced to focus on the hyper local and this is good for the community in a difficult period.
“The unique opportunity to show work on the big screen offers a way to short cut the restrictions Covid-19 has placed on their learning and close the circle between the young photographers and the community, of which they are part. The relationship between Nottingham College and Ocean Outdoor is a successful and rewarding relationship which we hope will continue for many years to come.”
Ocean chief marketing officer Richard Malton said: “This is our third photography show in association with Nottingham College students and we are delighted to be able to provide our screen as a canvas for their final year exhibition.”
Katie Searcy (20) spent six months getting to know the community at Old Coach Road allotments for her project, ‘To Be Outside’.
“The first time I visited the allotments I was so drawn to these little plots of sanctuary that had become these people’s escape. From old pallets to scrap metal, these people-built sheds like I’d never seen before, each being so unique and personal, I couldn’t help but get sucked into their stories, “ said Katie.
“For me the project was all about the people and creating work that they were proud of. I wanted to do their creations justice and show the world how such simple things can bring such joy.”
Jade Bramley (23) based her final project around Beeston Marina Mobile Home Park and its residents.
“I was always enamoured by the close knit nature of their semi-communal living space which was a big contrast to my own cold, isolated urban neighbourhood,” said Jade.
“The residents of the park acted more like a family and I wanted to document this environment in my project. I took multiple trips down to Beeston and each time I was increasingly welcomed into the community.
“The warmth shown by the residents helped me overcome some of my own social anxieties as they so easily accepted helping me with my project, often providing me with information about their lives which informed the way I went about the photobook I eventually made out of the series.”
The names of the other participating photographers are Rebecca Faulconbridge (22), Megan Smith (20), Bailie Carroll (21), Pola Michalewicz (21), Alina Moldovean (21), Nikita Greensmith (20), Adam Langley (23), Reece Richards (24), Isaac Hemstock (21), Matthew Seaman (21), Sarah Langford (19) and Ben Hunt (22).
Congratulations to them all for a fantastic exhibition.