Executed in 1979, on the verge of Birmingham’s now vibrant, creative city life; this series sparks reflection on our current selfie fanatic culture with it’s ground-breaking photography style for the time.

 

Inviting passers-by into their street pop-up studio, photographer’s Derek Bishton, Brian Homer and John Reardonallowed the community of Handsworth to snap themselves using a controlled shutter release. With more than 500 people participating in the project – a vast range of personalities and personas from individuals, families and friends seeped through. This diversity was also reflected through a multicultural perspective which, based on the stigma at that time in the city, was a bold move, particularly highlighted through their painted project advertisement signs written in Punjabi, Urdu and English.

 

“For most people who took part it was just a bit of a laugh. As photographers we had a serious intent because we recognised that Handsworth, at that time, was undergoing a radical change in terms of the demographics of the area. It was really the UK’s first multicultural suburb, and we wanted to make a record of that moment and give the people a role in creating that record.” Derek Bishton.

 

For the project’s 40th anniversary, Midlands Arts Centre’s Arena Gallery and Café will be hosting an exhibition of the works as a dignified celebration of real Handsworth people; combining intriguing documentary with an innovative portrait style.