Noughtie Nightlife

September 9th 

It's fair to say London's clubland has changed significantly over the last decade. These days not a month goes by without hearing of a new venue opening it's doors or an old favourite closing forever and that's not to mention the music and the people, who are in a state of constant flux. 'Noughtie Nightlife', a new photography exhibition curated by Antony Price, opens at the Rich Mix on 9th September and documents some of the decade defining moments in London clubbing.

Focusing on the fashion, faces and attitudes of cult London club nights including Kash Point, Trash, Anti-Social, All You Can Eat and Circus, Noughtie Nightlife celebrates the first decade of the new century through the images that tell the story, taken by the photographers who were there. Contributors include: Billa Baldwin, Ellis Scott, WeKnowWhatYouDidLastNight, and MegaMegaMega.

Curator Antony Price, himself a photographer, DJ and London College of Fashion research lecturer, has produced a show that encapsulates the feelings and creativity of the Noughties London club scene through a range of photographs taken by prominent club, trend and fashion photographers including Billa Baldwin, Ellis Scott, Matthew Brindle/Thom Will (MEGAMEGAMEGA.com), Christopher James (weknowwhatyoudidlastnight.com), Rory DCS, James Unsworth, Alex Warren, Rai Royal, Wade Fletcher and Mr Hartnett/Suzy Del Campo/David Swindells (PYMCA). The exhibition provides both a recent retrospective and a contemporary archive of 21st century youth culture and style, focusing on the influence of music and clubbing on fashion and vice versa.

Noughtie Nightlife, an LCF research funded project, demonstrates the power and importance of nightlife club photography as a medium in itself, documenting youth culture, style and attitude. 

In Ted Polhemus’ 1996 street style manual, Style Surfing: What to Wear in the 3rd Millennium, the post-modern looks of the day were defined as beyond categorisation, “I just surf right out of my wardrobe, becoming whoever or whatever I want to be. I am a figment of my own imagination.” Taking this statement as a basis for exploration, Noughtie Nightlife documents the hybrid mix 'n' match style tribe that emerged through the multitude of fashion-dress up and performance-influenced nights, such as Kash Point, Nag Nag Nag, Trash, Anti-Social, All You Can Eat, Durrr, Smash & Grab, Boombox, Circus, secretsundaze and Caligula. The scene was vivid, bold and daring, inclusive of a rich diversity of social classes, ethnicities and backgrounds and influenced some of London’s most notable fashion talent of the last ten years, with the University of the Arts London providing a breeding ground for the designers, promoters, DJ’s, protagonists and clientele that frequented and produced these innovative Noughties club nights.

Exclusive written features by Louise Hemmings will accompany the exhibit, along with a series of events including the Private View on 9th September that will then become open to the public for an exclusive audiovisual set by Anomalous Visuals and DJ set by Jim Warboy. On Wednesday 22nd September Noughtie Nightlife will host an afternoon of talks with guest speakers including Ted Polhemus and David Swindells (PYMCA) – tickets will be available for £10 from the Rich Mix box office. Press comp tickets available on request.

For further information, preview images and speaker updates please visit:
www.pigeonsandpeacocks.com/noughtienightlife

LISTING:
Noughtie Nightlife
9 September – 2 October 2010
Focusing on the fashion, faces and attitudes of cult London club nights including Kash Point, Trash, Anti-Social, All You Can Eat and Circus, Noughtie Nightlife celebrates the first decade of the new century through the images that tell the story, taken by the photographers who were there. Contributors include: Billa Baldwin, Ellis Scott, WeKnowWhatYouDidLastNight, and MegaMegaMega.

Times: 9.00am to 11.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 11.00pm Saturday and Sunday
Entrance: FREE
Venue: RICH MIX, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA
Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street

Private View: Thursday 9 September 2010
Time: 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Venue: RICH MIX, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green
Road, London, E1 6LA
INVITE ONLY

Opening Party: Thursday 9 September 2010
Time: 8.30pm – Midnight
Entrance: Free
Venue: RICH MIX, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green
Road, London, E1 6LA
Further info: www.pigeonsandpeacocks.com/noughtienightlife

Noughtie Nightlife Symposium
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Time: 2.00pm – 6.00pm
Venue: Cinema 2, RICH MIX, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green
Road, London, E1 6LA
Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street
Price: £10
Tickets: www.richmix.org.uk/bookings
Enquiries: 020 7613 7498
Guest Speakers: Ted Polhemus, David Swindells