The Hyman Collection is pleased to have acquired a special portfolio of works from Jim Mortram's powerful book and exhibition, Small Town Inertia. These photographs present the lives of people in his community near Dereham, a small town in Norfolk. Dereham is no different from thousands of other communities throughout Britain, where increasing numbers of people struggle to survive at a time of welfare cuts and failing health services. Mortram shows the lives of people in his community who, through physical and mental problems and a failing social security system, face isolation and loneliness in their daily lives. His work covers difficult subjects such as disability, addiction and self-harm, but is always with hope and dignity, focusing upon the strength and resilience of the people he photographs. Often the work is accompanied by texts in which the subjects are given a voice.
June 24, 2019
