10 May - 29 June 2014
As the cyclists begin The Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France tensions are high, and much like all athletes about to launch themselves over the start line, relying on a background of intense physical and mental preparation is essential. Dryden Goodwin’s film ‘Poised’ explores the theme of sporting excellence and the physical and emotional demands of being an athlete, in particular, a diver. The film follows a group of young female divers in their day-to-day routines, and evokes the sheer hard slog of the divers’ repetitive, relentless and demanding training sessions; providing a powerful expression of the determination and perseverance required to perfect the grace and beauty of each dive. Portraying the girls on their own, interacting with each other, and under the rapt, imploring gaze of their coaches, Goodwin’s camera combines extreme close-up with oblique detail to illuminate their intensity of focus and their idealisation of grace and flow.
Dryden Goodwin commented: ‘It was a privilege observing these elite, young divers in their training, devoted to achieving the perfect dive with such intensity and tenacity. I wanted Poised to distill the poetry and poignancy of their absorbing endeavour and each plummet into darkness. I’m delighted that Poised will be part of the festival.’
The exhibition at the award winning Ferens Art Gallery in Hull, UK City of Culture 2017, presents a fresh context for the video installation, which was originally commissioned and presented by Film and Video Umbrella and De La Warr Pavilion at the time of the London 2012 Olympics.
Kirsten Simister, Curator of Ferens Art Gallery said:
"This has been a fantastic opportunity to work with Film and Video Umbrella, and we are delighted to be the only venue in the East to have benefitted from Yorkshire Festival funding."
Alongside the exhibition, Hull's Heritage Learning has commissioned a photographic artist to work with a community group on a creative response to Poised, focusing on the concept of True Grit and sport's impact on physical and mental health. The group will explore themes in the work that resonate with their own lives, culminating in an exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery from the 12 – 20 June 2014. In addition, a free downloadable resource (Key Stages: Foundation to KS5) has been created by CAPE UK with Heritage Learning to accompany the installation of ‘Poised’. This has been made possible through the DepARTures project by CAPE UK which is part of Yorkshire Festival 2014.
Poised was commissioned and curated in 2012 as part of ‘Everything Flows’ by Film and Video Umbrella and De La Warr Pavilion. Supported by the Wellcome Trust and Arts Council England. With thanks to Crystal Palace Diving Club.
Special installation at Ferens Art Gallery for Yorkshire Festival 2014 supported by Arts Council England, Yorkshire Water, Welcome to Yorkshire and Yorkshire Local Authorities.
Yorkshire Festival 2014, over 100 days of arts and culture in the lead up to the Grand Départ. This is the first ever arts and culture festival to accompany the Tour de France in its 111 years.
Ferens Art Gallery
Queen Victoria Square
Kingston-upon-Hull
HU1 3RA
01482 613902
Free admission
Opening times:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 1.30pm – 4.30pm
