In the shadow of St Michael’s Mount the curious and idiosyncratic behaviour that is played before the audience, almost belies the fact that this ancient Cornish celebration of dance and music in the ancient village of Goldsithney, has been performed on August 5th since the 11th century.
This convincing link to the past brings before us a visual feast of enduring community spirit, performed with passion and enthusiasm by all generations of the village.
The days events centres around the procession of the symbolic red glove; originating from times past when the good St Perran the Little, gave the Cornish wrestlers his parish glove as the prize, which permitted the winner to collect the market toll on the day of the fair.
The form and content of these images influenced by the style of Tony Ray Jones, aims to show the rich tapestry of celebration that allows us to escape ‘everyday’ life and remind ourselves of our spiritual and historical connections to the past.
The past is the present and perhaps most importantly, when we see our own connections with the past we may then kindle a new respect for the landscape and for its people.