YASMIN TOPLEY
DANCING ON RUINS (2024)
EDITORIAL.
“Dancing on Ruins” combines elements of nostalgia, urban exploration, and the repurposing of historical contexts.
Inspired by Jeremy Deller’s (2018) observation on the transformation of industrial spaces, this project explores the transition from an industrial Britain to a service economy. In the 1980s, under Thatcher’s control, Britain faced rising unemployment, forcing people into a competitive race for success. Amidst this, house music emerged, particularly within black and working-class communities, offering an outlet for frustration and a chance to escape suppression.
By 1987, old industrial warehouses were repurposed for illegal acid house parties, transforming these locations into sanctuaries of escape and celebration. These individuals were, in essence, ‘dancing on ruins’. Social, economic, and political factors contributed to the decline of these spaces, yet the renewed interest in these sites highlights the significance of reclaiming and repurposing them for contemporary use.
The phrase ‘Dancing on Ruins’ encapsulates:
1. ‘Ruins’: The remnants of what once was.
2. ‘Dancing’: Acceptance of change, growth, and renewal.
Inspired by Jeremy Deller’s (2018) observation on the transformation of industrial spaces, this project explores the transition from an industrial Britain to a service economy. In the 1980s, under Thatcher’s control, Britain faced rising unemployment, forcing people into a competitive race for success. Amidst this, house music emerged, particularly within black and working-class communities, offering an outlet for frustration and a chance to escape suppression.
By 1987, old industrial warehouses were repurposed for illegal acid house parties, transforming these locations into sanctuaries of escape and celebration. These individuals were, in essence, ‘dancing on ruins’. Social, economic, and political factors contributed to the decline of these spaces, yet the renewed interest in these sites highlights the significance of reclaiming and repurposing them for contemporary use.
The phrase ‘Dancing on Ruins’ encapsulates:
1. ‘Ruins’: The remnants of what once was.
2. ‘Dancing’: Acceptance of change, growth, and renewal.
Art Direction, Photography & Styling
Assistance
HMUA
Designers
Talent
Assistance
HMUA
Designers
Talent
Yasmin Topley
Keira Brown
Megan Wellacott
Charlotte Mansfield & Juliet Evans
Alexine Puglisi & Gargi Vaidya
Keira Brown
Megan Wellacott
Charlotte Mansfield & Juliet Evans
Alexine Puglisi & Gargi Vaidya