Blast from the past as some of the subjects of my pics turn up for the private view at Turner Contemporary. A mix of (former) punks and skinheads from the Margate area. Oh, and a goth. Some had been part of more than one subculture, including rockabilly.
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.
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
All the young skins…
Young skinhead, mod/rude boys in Turner Contemporary, Margate, showing off their Harrington jackets. An older skinhead looks on in the background. © 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.
Me giving a talk about my photos and work at Turner Contemporary, Margate. Here I am explaining the short-lived fashion for skinheads (mainly skinhead girls) to wear moccasins. Picture circa 1981.
In the spirit of my Cachet project at Turner Contemporary I have added these photographs of me in 1981 and in 2011. I was 12 in the photobooth picture from 1981. I will let you work out the rest. The new portrait was taken by Dan Bass. You can hear me talking about growing up as a skinhead and then a punk in Margate via the Turner Contemporary site (takes a while to load - large file). Just realised that I am wearing Fred Perry in both pictures.
You can now read extracts from the Nothing In the World But Youth catalogue, including my essay on Margate’s youth subcultures and the history of youth in the area.
This story from the Guardian explains more about the project in Margate and features one of my photographs from the show.
