Tate Britain to launch major 1980s photography exhibition this November
‘The 80s: Photographing Britain’ opens on 21 November 2024, showcasing 350 works capturing the decade’s social and political upheaval.
Melanie Friend, Greenham Common, 1985. © Melanie Friend, Format Photographers.
Tate Britain will unveil The 80s: Photographing Britain on 21 November 2024, an expansive exhibition featuring nearly 350 images and archival materials that chronicle the seismic shifts of the 1980s. This landmark exhibition, the largest of its kind, will explore how photographers responded to the profound social, political, and economic changes of the era.
Roy Mehta, From the series Revival, London, 1989-1993. Roy Mehta, Courtesy of the artist and LA.
With works by over 70 artists, the exhibition captures iconic moments such as John Harris’s documentation of the miners’ strikes, Paul Graham’s reflections on social security offices, and Martin Parr’s absurdist portraits of Middle England. Visitors will also see how advancements in colour photography and cultural theory helped shape the evolving photographic landscape of the time.
Chris Killip, 'Critch' and Sean...1982. Tate.
The exhibition will also highlight photography’s role in representing marginalised communities, featuring Black, South Asian, and LGBTQ+ photographers who used the medium to challenge stereotypes and celebrate identity. Closing with a look at countercultural movements, the exhibition explores how underground club culture and fashion photography defined a new era for British youth at the end of the decade.
Date: 21 November 2024 – 5 May 2025. Location: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. Tickets available at tate.org.uk.