ROCKING PREJUDICE
Curated by Members of the Exhibition Studio Workshop
15th - 17th July 2015
Address: CHELSEA space, 16 John Islip St, London SW1P 4JU
Nearest Station: Pimlico
Opening times: 11am - 5pm
Rocking Prejudice is an exhibition showcasing popular culture’s influence on multiculturalism in the late 70s and early 80s in Britain. The campaign Rock Against Racism (RAR) was launched in 1976 in response to rising support for racism and fascism, and growing conflict between different cultural communities. Photographer Syd Shelton, an active member of the RAR movement, recorded the diverse and multicultural crowds during protests, gigs and concerts.
CHELSEA space holds within its collection a series of Syd Shelton’s photographs taken during that period documenting an exciting resistive history in the UK during that period. Five photographs have been selected, alongside documentary material. In May 1977, 21 black youths were arrested in dawn raids in an anti-mugging crackdown. Local outrage over the unjust treatment of the accused led to rising tensions, resulting in the Battle of Lewisham on August 13th 1977 (see BBC Article: Lewisham Riots 1977, Guardian Article: The Real Losers, Dave Renton Blog: Battle of Lewisham). The Fosters (1977) portrays Christopher Foster and his family who were foisted into the centre of these political disputes. Rock Against Racism Carnival (Leeds 1981) depicts three young black teenagers excitedly yelling at a concert oblivious to the audience’s diversity, expressing the powerful message that music breaks the barrier of racism. Juxtaposed to this are 2 photographs; Linda (Hackney, 1980) and Anti-racist Skinheads (Hoxton,1979), their tribal clothing distinguishing what they identified with. At the time Skinhead culture was often associated with neo-Nazism, the RAR badge worn on the lapel of one, symbolises the importance of fashion and music as political activism. ‘Rocking Prejudice’ tracks the rise of racism in Britain and how a convivial youth generation were politicised and fought back against the Neo-Nazi threat. |
Rocking Prejudice pin badges
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Curated by:
Grace Acton Roberts
Yang Chen
Kyle Chung
Sophie Pradère
Bryony Wright
Grace Acton Roberts
Yang Chen
Kyle Chung
Sophie Pradère
Bryony Wright
About Re- Recordings: The African-Carribean, Asian & African Art in Britain Archive
Work From the Collections #4
MA Curating an Collections
Rocking Prejudice is part of a 4-part series of accessory displays curated by the Exhibition Studio Workshop in the MA Curating & Collections at Chelsea College of Arts accompanying the main exhibition Re- Recordings: The African-Carribean, Asian & African Art in Britain Archive.
Visit CHELSEA space's website
Work From the Collections #4
MA Curating an Collections
Rocking Prejudice is part of a 4-part series of accessory displays curated by the Exhibition Studio Workshop in the MA Curating & Collections at Chelsea College of Arts accompanying the main exhibition Re- Recordings: The African-Carribean, Asian & African Art in Britain Archive.
Visit CHELSEA space's website