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FORMAT21 PRESENTS
Brian Griffin Black Country Dada 1969 - 1990 19 May - 5 September
King Sunny Ade, ‘Aura’, 1984
Brian Griffin is one of Britain’s most influential portrait photographers. He achieved early recognition in the 1970s and 1980s, inventing a new photographic style known as ‘Capitalist Realism’. Capturing the different workers of society, his photographs transform workplaces into stages and his subjects into actors. As his career blossomed Griffin continued these techniques as he began to photograph musicians, actors and album covers for iconic bands such as Depeche Mode.
“Those were analogue days! Growing up amongst the factories of the Black Country, studying photography in Manchester alongside my friends Daniel Meadows and Martin Parr, and then with trepidation going down to London to make a living as a photographer in the early 1970s. In popular recollection, the 1970s have gone down as the dark ages; Britain’s gloomiest period since the second world war, was set between Harold Wilson’s ‘swinging sixties’ and
Joe Jackson, ‘Look Sharp!’, Abumn cover, 1979
This exhibition presents an autobiographical survey, as collected in the new publication ‘Black Country Dada 1969 - 1990’, of Brian Griffin’s early and ground-breaking work. In the book and through the images shown here Griffin shares what it was like to survive the tough times as a photographer at the start of his career, whilst all the time developing his practice and new ways of making images.
Margaret Thatcher’s divisive eighties. What was it like to be a young photographer then? By the end of the 1980s my photography was known throughout the world. How did I do it? What did I go through? It’s all in this exhibition and my recent publication in which I tell the story, warts and all.” Brian Griffin, 2021
EXHIBITION PLAN 31 Ps . R yc ich he ar de d B lic u Fu tler rs ,1 98
30. Nick Turner, Inner City Unit, 1981
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29 Nick Turner, Inner City Unit, 1981
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28. Echo & The Bunnymen ‘A Promise’, 1981
27. Depeche Mode, ‘Construction Time Again’, 1983
26. Depeche Mode, ‘Construction Time Again’, 1983 44 Eric Foster, Steel Erector Broadgate, City of London, 1987 25. Freur, 1983
19. Brouncker Road, Acton, London, England, 1979
24. Steve Strange, 1981
23. Lena Lovich, 1979
45. Sewage Pipelayer, Broadgate City of London, 1986 46. Plasterer, Braodgate City of London, 1986
18. Big Bang, 1986
47. Welder, Broadgate City of London, 1986 48. Engineer, Broadgate City of London, 1986
22. Elvis Costello and The Attractions, ‘Armed 16’, 1978
21. Iggy Pop, ‘Soldier’, 1980
Music Videos: - Depeche Mode, ‘Only When I Lose Myself’, 1997 - Pan Sonic, ‘Urania’, 1995 - Pan Sonic, ‘Endless’, 1998
20. Wandsworth Roundabout 1977
49. Carpenter, Broadgate City of London, 1986
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Films: - Claustrofoamia, 1994 - Stanley Kubrick, 1999 - The Curl, 1996 - Xmas Steps, 1998
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52. Anti-Racism, 1988
53 Office Dance, Stockley Park, London, 1986
VITRINE Gallery, 1983
54. David Fraser, Chief Executive of United Scientific Group Ltd London, England, 1988
exhibition at The Photographers’ Newspaper Catalogue for Design Barney Bubbles Self Published book, 1978 Brian Griffin, copyright © 1978
Design Barney Bubbles ‘Y’, Self Published, 1983 Right hand side of vitrine:
Left hand side of vitrine:
55. Alan Lamb of Ferranti Radar System Test Group meets David Peacock of Hewlett Packard Limited, 1985
56. Joey’s, 1984
50. The Big Tie, 1986
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51. Man at Door, Southbank London, England, 1976
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57. Mothers Pride No.2, 1986
QUAD GALLERY 1 ENTRANCE
Born in Birmingham, Brian Griffin began a career in engineering aged 16, before enrolling to study photography at Manchester Polytechnic at 21. His first solo show was mounted in London in 1981, followed by solo shows in Europe, Asia and the USA. Griffin has published twenty books and in 1991 he was awarded the ‘Best Photography Book in the World’ prize at Barcelona Primavera Fotografica.
Big Bang, 1986
Brian Griffin’s photographs are held in the permanent collections of major art institutions including the Arts Council, British Council, Victoria & Albert Museum and National Portrait Gallery, London. To find out more visit: www.briangriffin.co.uk/
BOOKS, POSTERS & POSTCARDS ARE FOR SALE If you wish to purchase any items please ask a gallery staff member -
Black Country Dada Poster: £60 ‘POP!’ Postcards (colour image, pack of 10): £25 ‘Depeche Mode images and album covers’ (black and white image, pack of 10): £25 Black Country Dada Book - special exhibition price: £40
To view inside the Black Country Dada book, scan the QR code to the right, to visit Brian Griffin’s website:
www.formatfestival.com FORMAT is organised by QUAD in partnership with the Digital and Material Artistic Research Centre of the University of Derby. Throughout 2021 FORMAT is presenting a number of exhibitions and events for full listings visit our website.