Speaker: Jessica Fulford-Dobson (1985-87)

Topic: Topic: 'Skate Girls of Kabul …The ebb and flow from freedom to oppression'

In Skate Girls of Kabul, Fulford‑Dobson captures Afghan girls defying deep‑rooted cultural repression through skateboarding—one of the rare freedoms available to them. In a society where girls are barred from bicycling, these vibrant portraits of girls in traditional dress, joyfully skating inside Skateistan’s school, are acts of quiet rebellion  . The project brilliantly juxtaposes swirling scarves and radiant smiles against the harsh backdrop of their environment—each image a powerful testament to autonomy, resilience, and the essential human craving for movement and expression amidst constraints. These girls may skate for mere hours, but their liberation resonates far beyond the ramps.

Short Bio – Jessica Fulford‑Dobson

Jessica Fulford‑Dobson is a celebrated London‑based portrait photographer whose work has graced publications like British Vogue and The Telegraph Magazine. After starting as a documentary assistant—most notably with Linda McCartney—she went freelance in 2000. Her evocative portraits have been exhibited globally and featured in prestigious outlets. In 2014, her compelling image Skate Girl won 2nd prize in the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (chosen from over 4,000 entries)  . She debuted her first solo exhibition, Skate Girls of Kabul, at London’s Saatchi Gallery in 2015 

DATE

Location

Beale Centre
Blundell's School, Blundell's Road, Tiverton, Devon EX16 4DT

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