As punk celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, expect to see plenty of tributes to the music, the fashion, and most importantly, the attitude. Milan’s Galleria Carla Sozzani is giving a massive toast to the anti-establishment scene this month with an exhibition of nearly 100 photographs that name-check all the London subculture’s legends. Most of the photographs are from the seminal year of 1976, when the Sex Pistols released “Anarchy in the UK,” kids were dropping their savings on studded shirts from Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s SEX boutique, and Debbie Juvenile, Siouxsie Sioux, Simon Barker, and Soo Catwoman made up the so-called “Bromley Contingent” of rabid early Sex Pistols fans.
The iconic photographs were taken mainly by other OG punk insiders including Simon Barker and Sheila Rock. Their charismatic portraits will be complemented by collages and graphics by Jamie Reid, with a special section highlighting the videos and photos of John Tiberi. From slogan T-shirts and statement makeup to the filth and fashion of Westwood’s legendary store on the King’s Road, the result is a thrilling portrait of British punk at its explosive peak.
Punk In Britainruns from from June 11 through August 28, 2016 at Galleria Carla Sozzani,
Credits
Text Hannah Ongley
Images courtesy of Galleria Carla Sozzani