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A person in a dark leotard with a white stripe leaps through the air in a gym. Their body is stretched horizontally, with one leg extended and the other bent.

Other Spaces: Jo Longhurst's stunning shots of gymnasts are a joy to behold

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Date
23 July 2012

Jo Longhurst has a CV longer than my arm (which is long) that includes seemingly hundreds of group and solo shows across the world, reproductions in numerous books and even a cheeky PhD from the Royal College of Art. All of which leads us to believe she’s an incredibly talented woman and this suspicion is confirmed by the sheer beauty of her work and the meticulous attitude she takes towards her practice.

Her most recent body of photographs Other Spaces focusses its lens on the Heathrow Gymnastic Club and the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, admiringly documenting the toned physiques and aerial prowess of the young gymnasts on display in an effort to “…explore the physical and emotional experiences of elite gymnasts through classic portraiture, appropriated photographs, performance and installation.” The resulting body of work is incredibly striking and delicately highlights the mental and physical conditioning experienced by these young athletes with incredible finesse.

Other Spaces is now open at Mostyn, Llandudno, and runs till 30 September.

A heavily blurred and grainy image showing indistinct figures in a dimly lit space. A bright yellow glow illuminates the background on the right.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces

A heavily blurred and grainy image of a person in a red garment. They appear to be in motion against a neutral, textured background.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces

A white gallery space with wooden floors. On the walls are several large, dark photographs of a person’s limbs and torso in various contorted poses.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces (exhibition)

A person in a white bodysuit performs a deep backbend against a plain grey background. Their body forms a sharp arch, with hands and feet planted firmly on the floor.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces

A diver in a red swimsuit is captured mid-air against a black background. Their body is taut and vertical, with legs pressed together and toes pointed.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces

A large photograph is mounted high on the back wall of a white gallery room with wooden floors. The image shows a person in mid-air during a gymnastic or athletic move, their body stretched horizontally across the frame.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces (exhibition)

Three black rectangular panels are mounted on a white wall, supported by gold-coloured geometric frames. Two panels show a person in a red outfit in mid-air, while the third remains a solid black void.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces (exhibition)

A yellow geometric sculpture made of thin metal frames projects from a white gallery wall. The interlocking rectangular shapes create a series of sharp angles and open voids.
Above

Jo Longhurst: Other Spaces (exhibition)

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About the Author

James Cartwright

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James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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