Youth Culture History

Adrian Coombs-Hoar in 1978 at Dreamland and again in 2011. Still a Rockabilly. Copyright Iain Aitch.

Keith, circa 1981 and again in Margate 2011. Taken on the Harbour wall, where Keith now sells his paintings, inspired by the work of JMW Turner. The Turner Contemporary Gallery was named after Turner, who lived and worked in the town, painting some of his most famous work from a spot on or near where the gallery now sits. Keith was a friend of mine back in the 1980s.

Dennis Morris was highly adept at capturing the emerging black subculture in late 1960s and early 1970s London, as he was a teenager as it was growing. From sound systems to street fashions, he caught it all. He also captured life around in him in Hackney before going on to photograph the Sex Pistols and Bob Marley (his two most famous jobs) and choose acts for Island Records. I interviewed him last month for the Daily Telegraph. Only a few of the words made it to the web, but you want to see the photos anyway!

This is Tracey, taken circa 1981 and 2011. Part of my Cachet show in Nothing in the World But Youth at Turner Contemporary 9/2011-1/2012

Me as as suede, aged 11, shortly before having the whole lot off. 1980.

Taken on the same spot, around 25 years apart.

© Iain Aitch

Opening night at the Turner Contemporary, 16 September 2011. Participants in the project pose in front of their portraits in the gallery. Former and current punks and skins (and a goth) from Margate and the surrounding area. Photo © Gita Malhotra.

This blog is the result of my work during an artistic residency in Margate, Kent, exploring youth subcultures and their part in that town’s history. The work is currently on show at Turner Contemporary in Margate as part of the show Nothing In The World But Youth, but comes down on 8 January.

The work includes historic photographs donated by former and current members of youth subcultures, new portraits of each participant by myself and lines of text taken from interviews with the participants. The photographs sit in pairs, showing both the passing of time as well as the influence of these subcultures on the current life and look of those brave souls who agreed to take part. The project has a Facebook page where you can see the work taking shape as well as far more ephemera and photographs from Margate locals.

This blog should continue the project and also create a space for me to post more on youth subcultures from my own findings and links to other likeminded souls across the web.