reportage

Worshippers

This presentation is the product of several visits to Bristol’s Climbing Wall (St. Werburghs’s Church) and the Warehouse Climbing Arena in Gloucester. Paradoxically, it all stemed from my personal interest in the outdoors, remote environments and people’s interaction with them. Indoor climbing began as an alternative activity to keep climbers fit during the long and wet British winters, when the chances to find dry rock outdoors are slim. However, it rapidly developed into an independent sport of cult status. Take a pinch of gymnastics and spice it up with the thrills and precariousness of heights. You might have the recipe for indoor climbing.

To some extent the activity defeats the purpose it was originally intended for. Climbing naturally happens outdoors, not indoors. However, a high percentage of indoor climbers will have never climbed outside. The relationship between landscape and a climber on the rock face is unique. No other activity will allow you to establish such an intimate relationship with the outdoors – touching the rock. Think about your own experience as a walker, and how you insulate yourself against the inclemency of the environment – shoes, waterproofs, etc… The outdoor rock climber rarely wears more than a pair of flimsy specialist climbing shoes, shorts and a T-shirt. Climbing indoors can be seen as anything from a trendy nineties invention to let off steam to an attempt to control the uncontrollable. Outdoors the weather is unpredictable; so lets make an outdoor environment indoors, something we can easily shape to our own needs and then control. Why not produce artificial rock that looks like and feels like real rock? Actually, it feels better than real rock. Who needs the hassle of going outdoors anymore?

My photographs intend to reflect an activity which is appealing and surreal, an activity which fits our modern indoor-bound existence. The sarcastic captions are not intended to be irreverent or disrespectful. Nor did I intend to question the religious beliefs or non-beliefs of those who practise the sport. My captions only point to the absurdity of an activity which I also find utterly seductive.

I avoided climbing photography clichés which emphasise the climber’s prowess, who is usually photographed from above in vertigo-inducing situations. Climbing is more than raw strength, boldness on the verge of recklessness and other – some would argue very masculine – qualities. It is also about control, instinct and, why not, sensuality.