These photography zines/books have been made as a part of the new Museum of Youth Culture exhibition at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry titled 'Grown Up Britain: 100 years of teenage kicks. This group exhibition represents people’s personal experiences of being young from across the UK. Editions of this zine are also available at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
The photography zine features black and white and colour film photographs alongside text and excerpts from interviews from my 2020/21 project titled 'Questions of Solidarity'.
Introduction:
"The project began in May 2020 as a record of London’s involvement with the global anti-racism movement, sparked by the unlawful killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by a white police officer during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Following this unforgettable event that was broadcast around the world, a widely supported movement of international anti-racism demonstrations spread, striking a chord with populations during a global pandemic. During this period, Britain was facing the highest Coronavirus death toll in Europe and the struggling government had only recently begun to lift restrictions designed to get the virus under control in the country. Although large public gatherings remain banned, the unlawful killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked mass protests in Britain and prompted a reckoning with how its role in the slave trade and its history of colonialism and empire related to discrimination in today's society.
Following a period of isolation and confusion, a diverse group of citizens united to show solidarity against racism. The protests seeking justice for the unlawful killing heightened the debates surrounding systematic historical racism in the U.S.A and Europe. I continued to document the anti-racism demonstrations in central London throughout the year. One of the pivotal demonstrations was later referred to online as the “Battle of Trafalgar Square”. This eventful day saw anti-racism demonstrators clash with groups of British Nationalists who sought to protect historical monuments and war memorials
from damage.
My interactions with the protesters during the demonstrations allowed me to develop the narrative of this work and build relationships with some of the people photographed. I remained in contact and developed conversations with various passionate anti-racism demonstrators and later reconnected to make a further set of portraits away from the protests. These further portraits and the subsequent dialogue reflect on the historical events of 2020 and the reality of those seeking to bring about systematic change.
These photographs question what it means to be British today and how we collectively scrutinise the ethics of those in power."
Limited to 100 Editions
8x10"
96 PAGES
Digitally Printed
Black and White and Colour Photographs throughout.
Perfect bound PUR Binding.
Gloss Paper.
Signed and Numbered.
Containing additional print.
All profits will be donated to Eastside Young Leaders Charity.
Thanks for all your support.