Funland is a project based on the Northern seaside town Blackpool. Blackpool used to be the hub for many families in the summer as it was easily accessible and provided many family activities such as the familiar please beach, arcades, beach and not forgetting ‘The Pepsi Max’ rollercoaster – which used to be the tallest and steepest roller coaster in the world.
I myself used to visit this town in summer with my family as it was once one of the best seaside towns to visit in the UK. However, like many seaside resorts in the UK, they suffered a huge decline in tourist numbers since the 1960’s due to the popularity of foreign travel. Ever since this Blackpool has slowly been declining with less and less visitors each decade, this having a huge impact on the local business and economy making it difficult for them to remain open.
I recently visited the town and was shocked by how desolate and deprived this town had become from last visiting it as a child many years ago. This really saddening me as it carries such a nostalgic feel to it and provides many jocular memories, not only for me but to anyone who visited this town as a child. From witnessing this I decided to create a project based on the town, documenting aspects of the town, visiting the areas I used to visit years ago as a child.
I am a photographer based in Northern England, I have currently just graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University. My practice is heavily based on the documentary aspect of life and often revolves around focusing on the mundane and banal aspects which ordinarily go unnoticed, making the normal appear abnormal. Being from a typical working class British background, I have a huge interest in Britain as a whole, this having a huge impact within my work and my way of thinking as the projects I create revolve around British elements and Landscapes.
© text and pictures by Conor Graves
