Rob Ball: Dreamlands, The Photographers' Gallery

The Photographers’ Gallery celebrates the British summer by transporting visitors to the Kent seaside with a captivating display of images by British photographer, Rob Ball.
The Rob Ball Dreamland photographs take us on a tour of the disused amusement park in Margate. First opening its doors in 1920, Dreamland was once one of the UK’s top tourist attractions and drew in massive crowds during in its hay-day. Following a gradual decline in popularity, it closed its doors to thrill-seekers in 2003, but is finally set to re-open this June. Ball’s photos capture the eerie beauty of the abandoned Dreamland, while documenting the process of restoration and reconstruction.
Rob Ball photography
You'll be fascinated by the sheer quality of the images in Dreamlands, but it is Ball’s unusual photographic technique that makes this exhibition unique. He exposed, developed and fixed each ‘tintype’ photo on location in a temporary darkroom, using a process that dates back to the 1860s – when the first amusement rides arrived on the Dreamland site.
Margate is clearly the place to be this summer with Grayson Perry's current sell-out show at Turner Contemporary and Tracey Emin's famous love of the town. So if you’re looking for something a little different, we suggest there is no better time to join the Margate renaissance.