On show: Soho Archives at the Photographers' Gallery

Author:

Olivier Laurent

Soho Archives: This small exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery depicts the explosion of the bohemian and youth culture of Soho in the 1950s and 1960s, BJP reporter Pauline Lockwood writes.

Three sets of photographs represent Soho throughout the two decades. All explicitly or implicitly reflect the phenomenon of sexual liberation.
Jean Straker’s pictures do so most overtly and daringly, considering the 1950s social norms. They are all studio based with limited props, and have a very strong emphasis on female nudity. The pictures are accompanied with a few press reviews of the time, which display shock headlines such as ‘A married man: “Tonight for the first time I’ve seen a woman without any clothes.”

The messy and overflowing scenes of The Daily Herald Newspaper pictures depict Soho’s crazy nightlife. The crammed nightclubs and exuberant youth make today’s Soho feel sombre…

In the final set of pictures, David Hurn explores the world of Soho strippers on stage and behind the scenes. He strikes a contrast between the two aspects of a stripper’s life. The backstage is more welcoming as the girls share gossip and laugh together. Comparatively, the stage lacks warmth and character and underlines the strictly business nature it may have for the girls.

Soho Archives, 1950s &1960s, will be the last exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery’s current location. It will be moving into a larger building on Ramillies Street in December.

Soho Archives
Runs until 16 November
Website: www.photonet.org.uk/index.php

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