Interview with Peter Martin

An Open Ground was an exhibition and wider research project that looked at issues surrounding historical storytelling, inner city gentrification and the complex issues around heritage and rapid development.

The centerpiece of the exhibition was a new commission by the artist Peter Martin. Martin’s new film combined static and panoramic shots of the area, providing a unique picture of the postindustrial landscape, which is synonymous with the city of Sheffield. In addition to this, Martin also spent time capturing the stories of local businesses, art galleries, recording studios and new residents of the area, capturing a snapshot portrait of one of the few remaining city centre districts yet to succumb to mass re-development.

We spoke to Peter about how he approached making the film, how the experience shaped his practice and how his understanding of the area may have changed following the creation of the film.