Leap

A contribution to Haringay’s Olympic 2012 art collection

For Leap, Bakker photographed human wear and tear on local sports equipment. The photographs explore the action of making physical leaps in sport and the impact it leaves. Every piece of sports equipment holds a history of personal stories, as each participant has left their mark on it.

As part of his research, Bakker looked back on his fondness for gymnastics as a child growing up in the Netherlands. “I never thought I could excel at sports as I had no aptitude for activities like football, for which I was always picked last. But the first time I leapt over a vaulting horse I realised there were sports I could enjoy and even be good at.”

Bakker conducted workshops with children from year 3 (ages 7-8) and year 5 (ages 9-10) at South Harringay Junior School in north London, explaining the thinking behind the project and the workings of photography. Students used disposable film cameras to take photographs in the sports hall and in the playground. Bakker has selected a number of these to be included in an artwork that will be exhibited alongside Bakker's work.

More information about Haringey's Olympic 2012 art collection at ooooohart.blogspot.com/

Leap will be exhibited from May 2012 around Haringey alongside new work by Nicola Green, Mark Oliver, Sara Noble, Paul Lyalls, James Townsend, Jennie Pedley, Kiki Machado, Melonie Stennett, Jacqui Chanarin and Call & Response (Matt Lewis and Cecilia Bonilla)